APS REGULATORY ALERT

EPA seeking public comment proposed rules for plant-incorporated protectants
Date: April 19, 2007

EPA is seeking public comment until July 17, 2007 on two proposed rules for plant-incorporated protectants (PIPs) that are based on plant viral coat protein genes (PVCP-PIPs). EPA is proposing to exempt PVCP-PIPs from the pesticide registration requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) when the PVCP-PIPs meet specified criteria indicating that they are low risk to human health and the environment (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&d=EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0642-0173). EPA is also proposing to exempt residues of the protein portion of a PVCP-PIP from the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) section 408 requirement to establish a food tolerance when the proteins meet certain criteria indicating they are safe for human consumption (http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&d=EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0643-0087). http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/pips/proposals/plant_virus_coat_protein_exemption_proposal.htm