EPA Pesticide Progam Updates
From EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs
www.epa.gov/pesticides
April 20, 2012
In This Update:
• Guidance to Pesticide Companies to Clarify EPA’s Pesticide Labeling Requirements in Light of OSHA’s Newly Revised Hazard Communication Standard
• April 24, 2012 Webinar: IPM in Child Care Centers: Protecting Children from Pests and Pesticides
Guidance to Pesticide Companies to Clarify EPA’s Pesticide Labeling Requirements in Light of OSHA’s Newly Revised Hazard Communication Standard
The Environmental Protection Agency has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of Pesticide Registration Notice 2012-1, titled Material Safety Data Sheets as Pesticide Labeling. This notice updates and clarifies PR Notice 92-4, titled Material Safety Data Sheets as Pesticide Labeling and is available at http://www.epa.gov/PR_Notices/.
The notice provides guidance to registrants on the relationship between EPA-approved labels for pesticides registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Material Safety Data Sheets required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Material Safety Data Sheets are also referred to as Safety Data Sheets.
OSHA requires Safety Data Sheets under its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)(29 CFR 1910.1200) and recently published a final rule (77 Federal Register 17574-17896, March 26, 2012) to align its HCS requirements with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The GHS is designed to provide a common and coherent approach to defining and classifying hazards and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets. The system was developed based on major existing systems for industrial chemicals, pesticides, consumer chemicals and chemicals in transport, but implementation of the GHS would require some changes in all existing systems in order to achieve harmonization.
PR notice 2012-1 explains how registrants can ensure their FIFRA labeling and Safety Data Sheets comply with EPA’s requirements. EPA recommends registrants include in their Safety Data Sheets the hazard information required on FIFRA labeling and a brief explanation for differences between that information and the Safety Data Sheet hazard information. The PR Notice includes sample language that may be used.
The agency is soliciting comments on the information collection activities and related burden estimates associated with the guidance provided in PR Notice 2012-1. Comments are due by June 19,2012, and should be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0176 at regulations.gov.
OSHA's final regulation modifying its Hazard Communication Standard to conform with GHS can be found at http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/.
April 24, 2012 Webinar: IPM in Child Care Centers: Protecting Children from Pests and Pesticides
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs and Office of Children's Health Protection are offering a free webinar on Integrated Pest Management and Child Care Settings at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (EDT) on April 24, 2012. This webinar will provide information on how child care programs can reduce exposure to pests and pesticides by addressing the underlying conditions that can lead to pest infestations rather than relying on pesticides for control of pests such as cockroaches, rodents, ants and flying insects.
Presentations will include:
• IPM and pesticides;
• Reducing the exposure of children in child care centers to pests and pesticides;
• Steps to eliminate pests through IPM; and
• Essential steps for developing an IPM program in child care settings.
To reserve your seat, go to: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/178245152