Enhancing pesticide risk assessment processes at the US Environmental Protection Agency

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has long championed the use of the most modern toxicity testing approaches to meet its pesticide registration mandates, often collaborating with stakeholders to develop and implement innovative approaches that strengthen environmental and human health protections. Despite these efforts, the adoption of 21st-century testing approaches in pesticide registration has been slowed by various factors, including limited resources, inefficient processes for establishing confidence in new methods, and the retention of outdated data requirements codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. This paper provides a brief overview of the current USEPA legislative landscape for pesticide toxicity testing, describes the progress and remaining challenges in using new testing approaches to fulfill regulatory requirements, and highlights opportunities to address these challenges and enhance protection of human health and the environment.