Omnibus Bill Passes with Pesticide Registration Resources for U.S. EPA

ARLINGTON, Va., – The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA 5) was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Acts of 2023 passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in December.

PRIA 5 will supplement annual appropriations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) with additional funding from industry-paid fees that support pesticide registration, registration review and other regulatory actions to promoting product innovation.

According to RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment), the OPP funding will increase staffing, and better meet registration review timeframes to give consumers and applicators the tools they need to manage pests in and around our homes, communities and the environment.

From its inception in 2004, pesticide manufacturers, environmental NGOs, applicators and members of Congress have supported PRIA 5, RISE said in a press release.

Megan Provost, president of RISE, said the organization was pleased to see congressional reauthorization of PRIA 5.

“[RISE] works to strengthen the federal pesticide regulatory process and ensure our industry can continue to reliably deliver the pest control and plant health solutions necessary for protecting public health and safety, maintaining green spaces and infrastructure and keeping shared spaces pest-free,” said Provost.

The bill will increase funding for farm workers, clinician training programs and require Spanish translations of pesticide labels within set timeframes.

“Having bipartisan congressional support to reauthorize PRIA … Has delivered greater regulatory predictability for our members, provided resources for important pesticide applicator programs and enhances transparency in the pesticide regulatory process,” said Provost.