EPA Considers Exemptions for Older Chemistries in Response to Bed Bug Problem

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering granting a Section 18 label exemption to older chemistries for bed bug control. Under Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) EPA is authorized to allow an unregistered use of a pesticide for a limited time if EPA determines that an emergency condition exists.

NPMA Senior Vice President Bob Rosenberg said last Fall EPA had discussions with several members of the structural pest control research community – including  Dr. Mike Potter and Dr. Phil Koehler – about the need to take a look at older chemistries (e.g., organophospates, carbamates). However, it wasn’t until April’s National Bed Bug Summit, when a variety of groups were clamoring for such products, that EPA conceded that this might be the right course of action. Following the Summit, NPMA worked with the Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO) to identify whether there was a need for a Section 18 and to assemble a consortium of states that are interested in participating.

“A Section 18 is a special registration that is granted to a state agency to address an emergency and it is something that EPA does for agriculture,” Rosenberg said. “For example, a Section 18 exemption was granted to solve a European corn borer problem in Wyoming.”

Rosenberg said that the current challenge facing the industry is that even though both states and EPA agree on the need, there is no manufacturer at this point that has committed to produce such products.  “It could be any number of reasons from economic issues to concerns about liability, “ Rosenberg said.