MP5 Agrochemicals and Pesticides
Monday, 14 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM in Exhibit Hall

(GRU-1118-066283) Active ingredients, formulated products, and tank mixes: What should be regulated?

grue, christian¹, Curran, Catherine¹, Cabarrus, Jennifer¹, Smith, Bridget¹, King, Kerensa¹, Grassley, James¹, Gardner, Susan², ¹ University of Washington, seattle, WA, USA² Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste, La Paz, BCS, Mexico

ABSTRACT- The assumption that within end products, active ingredients represent the greatest hazard to non-target species and therefore should be the primary, if not sole, focus of pesticide regulations is not always valid. Type of formulation, impurities, inert ingredients, adjuvants, and the mixture of active ingredients are all important in assessing hazards and risks associated with the use of end products. After all, it is the end product that is released into the environment. However, this is not adequately reflected in the existing regulatory frameworks within FIFRA and TSCA in the United States. Inconsistency in the regulatory classification of chemicals within end products other than active ingredients - and therefore how these chemicals are treated within and between FIFRA and TSCA - is a concern. We define these terms, review the evidence indicating the non-target toxicity of formulations and tank mixes can vary from that of active ingredients, describe the regulatory frameworks by which active ingredients and other components of end products are regulated in the United States and elsewhere, and suggest that a new regulatory strategy is needed. The hazards end products pose to non-targets need to be assessed and the information made available to federal and state regulators, natural resource managers and pesticide applicators.

Key words: active ingredients, formulated products, tank mixes, regulations