As lawmakers once again prepare to begin work on a new farm bill in 2024, farm bill priorities are being voiced by all parties. One area of the ag sector which could be a candidate for reform in the new farm bill could be the pesticide labeling process.
The EPA is responsible under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for regulating pesticides. However, Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA 4th District) says that some states have gone beyond EPA’s own stringent regulations.
Ag appropriations member Newhouse says the uncertainty on EPA-approved science-based labels will erode access to critical pesticides.
Newhouse supports the Agricultural Label Uniformity Act to reaffirm pesticide label uniformity.
U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Jim Costa (D-CA) are co-sponsors of the bill.
Newhouse concedes, states have authority to regulate pesticides in their jurisdictions, but should not impose labeling requirements on top of or different than the scientific findings of EPA.
