All Knowledge & Insights By Date

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) has initiated the rollout of its new pesticide application submission service within its MyPeST application. EPA plans to replace the Pesticide Submission Portal (PSP) within its Central Data Exchange (CDX) for pesticide submissions with the expanded MyPeST platform for all customer interactions. The rollout will occur in three Phases -- with Phase I going into effect on July 3, 2026. All data submitters,...

The Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO) FIFRA 25(b) Workgroup has released updated guidance intended to aid registrants in developing product efficacy data to support claims on products that qualify for the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Section 25(b) minimum risk exemption when seeking state registration. Under FIFRA Section 25(b), as detailed in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 C.F.R. Section 152.25(f)), the U.S. Environmental...

On May 15, 2026, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) announced a proposed rulemaking to harmonize its regulation of pesticide-treated seeds with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation of pesticide-treated seeds. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) grants EPA discretion to exempt from its requirements any pesticide that is of a character that is not requiring regulation under FIFRA. EPA exempts treated articles, including but...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has activated its Emerging Viral Pathogen (EVP) Guidance for Antimicrobial Pesticides (Guidance) in response to hantavirus, which had been considered to be a rare disease caused by an infection from some hantaviruses (including Andes Virus). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantaviruses are a family of viruses that cause serious illness and sometimes death in people worldwide. The viruses are spread by infected...

Public attention surrounding hantavirus outbreaks often focuses, understandably, on the immediate health risks associated with rodent exposure. Recent reports tied to a cruise vessel outbreak of hantavirus have once again highlighted the complex relationship between human health, confined environments, sanitation practices, and pest management. Yet beyond the headlines, such outbreaks also serve as a reminder of the often-overlooked role that pesticide regulation, and more specifically, the...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released on May 6, 2026, a report on EPA’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 top management challenges. The report identifies what OIG considers to be the six most serious management and performance challenges facing EPA in FY 2026: Managing contracts, grants, and associated data systems; Meeting statutory requirements for ensuring the safe use of chemicals; Managing information technology modernization; Maintaining mission...

On May 1, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it released the draft Fungicide Strategy (Strategy) as part of EPA’s obligations under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). According to EPA, the draft Strategy identifies “practical, science-based” protections to safeguard more than 1,000 federally endangered and threatened species, while preserving flexibility for states, growers, and applicators...

I was delighted this week to visit again with Alexandra Dunn, President and Chief Executive Officer of CropLife America (CLA), and my colleague Jim Aidala, to discuss some of the issues facing the crop protection industry. Alex’s amazing career has prepared her well for her demanding job. After graduating from law school and a brief stint in private practice, Alex served as general counsel for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, then went on to become the Executive...

Many residents of the Washington, D.C., area have spent some time in their careers as congressional employees, staff to a member of Congress (House or Senate), or staff members of the many committees of Congress on both sides of Capitol Hill. Put aside how many former staffers may comment on how much better the “old days” were, as Easter approaches, it is time to reflect on how much time, effectively, it has taken to enact legislation in this session of Congress. (Side note: For many, “old...

On January 5, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its draft Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice, entitled “Pesticide Registration Notice 2026-NEW: Notifications, Non-Notifications, and Minor Formulation Amendments” (Draft PRN 2026-NEW), and announced a 45-day public comment period. 91 Fed. Reg. 271. Since the January 5, 2026, announcement, a 30-day extension to the comment period has been approved but not yet published. In the Draft PRN 2026-NEW, EPA provides...