EPA to Remove 12 Substances from Approved Pesticide Ingredient List

EPA intends to remove 12 chemicals from the list of inert ingredients approved for use in pesticides. The chemicals proposed for removal are all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

None of the substances are currently used in registered pesticide products. By removing them from the list of approved inert ingredients, EPA ensures that future requests to use the substances will be subject to review before approval.

Stakeholders may submit public comments until October 13, 2022. A list of the PFAS chemicals that EPA is proposing to remove form the list is available in this press release on EPA’s website.  

Manufacturers typically add Inert ingredients to pesticides to increase a product’s shelf life, add a fragrance, or prevent caking or foaming that hampers spraying/application. EPA maintains an online database that allows users to search for substances used as inert ingredients in pesticides called InertFinder.

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) regulations, US EPA requires registration of pesticide products, imposes packaging and labeling standards, mandates certification and minimum age criteria for applicators of certain pesticides, and more.

Other Efforts To Address PFAS Contamination

A FIFRA rulemaking to amend the list of approved inert ingredients is EPA’s latest step to address widespread PFAS contamination nationwide.

EPA unveiled a national “Roadmap” for addressing PFAS contamination in 2021. In recent years, EPA has used its authority under a wide range of environmental laws to:

• Designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA/Superfund (Details)
• Add PFAS chemicals to the EPCRA Toxics Release inventory (TRI) Reporting list (Details)
• Issue drinking water advisories for PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, and GenX chemicals (Details)
• Develop a PFAS test method in cooperation with the Department of Defense (Details)
• Propose new TSCA Section 8 reporting and recordkeeping requirements (Details)

Many states have taken action to restrict or prohibit the use of PFAS as well, including Vermont, Maine, California, Illinois, and New Jersey.

Complete Environmental Regulations Training

FIFRA compliance is among the many environmental compliance topics addressed during the Complete Environmental Regulations Webinar.

The live, instructor-led webinar provides an overview of US EPA’s major air, water, and chemical programs—from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to EPCRA, TSCA, CERCLA/Superfund, and more. EH&S professionals who attend can identify the regulations that apply to their facility and locate key requirements to achieve compliance.  

Tags: environmental compliance, FIFRA, pesticides, PFAS