From 73652.1202@compuserve.comSat Oct 26 10:43:24 1996
Date: 25 Oct 96 15:51:14 EDT
From: Patricia Dines <73652.1202@compuserve.com>
To: BlindCopyReceiver:  ;
Subject: EPA TO EXPEDITE APPROVAL OF PHEROMONE PESTIC

For your info - P. Dines

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joseph Makuch, INTERNET:jmakuch@nal.usda.gov
To: Patricia Dines, 73652,1202
To: enviro-news@nal.usda.gov
Date: Fri, Sep 13, 1996, 2:39 PM
Subject: PA EPA REIN. REQ. TO EXPEDITE THE APPROVAL OF PHEROMONE PEST. (fwd)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 14:32:04 -0400
From: GROUP PRESS 202-260-4355 <PRESS@epamail.epa.gov>
To: Multiple recipients of list <epa-press@webster.rtpnc.epa.gov>
Subject: PA EPA REIN. REQ. TO EXPEDITE THE APPROVAL OF PHEROMONE PEST.


FOR RELEASE:  FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1996

EPA REINVENTS REQUIREMENTS TO EXPEDITE THE 
APPROVAL OF PHEROMONE (BIOLOGICAL) PESTICIDES 

EPA has completed a series of regulatory reinvention measures to 
speed-up the registration of new, safer insect pheromone pesticides, 
resulting in the approval of new products in record time.  Pheromones 
are naturally occurring compounds used by insects to communicate and 
mate with one another.  The use of these compounds can achieve pest 
control by confusing normal insect behavior and preventing 
reproduction.  Pheromones are good for human health and the 
environment because they pose fewer risks than traditional chemical 
pesticides.  They are effective at very low doses and fit well into 
integrated pest management programs, reducing the need for 
conventional insecticides.  EPA's new common sense measures, a series 
of rules published between 1993 and 1996, have reduced both the time 
and cost of bringing new pheromone pesticides to market.  Approval 
times have been reduced from over two years to as little as two 
months, contributing to the development and marketing of a record 
number of safer products mainly used to control moth and caterpillar 
pests in the past three years.  Specific measures include exempting 
most pheromone pesticides from requirements for the establishment of 
tolerances (maximum permissible levels for residues in food).  This 
exemption is appropriate because no harmful residues result from 
pheromone use.  EPA is also allowing research and testing of most 
pheromone products to proceed on up to 250 acres of land without 
requiring prior Agency approval, compared to the 10-acre limit that 
applies to conventional pesticides.  A larger area is required to test 
the effectiveness of pheromone products, and their low risk justifies 
an exemption from the 10-acre limit.  The 250-acre exemption saves 
both EPA and pheromone developers time and money.  Many of the 
registrants of these products are small companies with limited 
resources and savings will allow them to free-up capital for product 
development and for technical assistance to growers on how to use 
these safer products to replace chemical insecticides.  EPA's 
pheromone reinvention measures are one of a number of initiatives 
being implemented by the Agency in response to President Clinton's 
charge to reinvent government processes and reduce regulatory burdens 
wherever possible while preserving public health protection.

R-132                                                     #    #    #