The NAAA joined several grower and commodity groups in a letter
sent to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees
expressing support for the inclusion of pesticide related regulatory reforms
included in horticulture title of the House version of the 2018 Farm Bill.
These reforms include eliminating the need for a costly
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Pesticide General
Permit (PGP) for products already certified under FIFRA and only allowing
states and the federal government to regulate pesticides, not local or county
governments. Additional reforms would speed up the consultation process between
different government agencies to streamline the extremely expensive and
rigorous registration process for pesticides under the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
The letter reads in part: “These reforms would increase the
global competitiveness of American agriculture, encourage much needed
innovation, and reduce costs to American farmers and ranchers and other users
of pesticides who protect public health and our environment.”
In additional to NAAA, other groups that signed the letter
include the Agricultural Retailers Association, the American Farm Bureau
Federation, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the California
Specialty Crops Council, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, the
National Cotton Council, the National Pest Management Association, the National
Potato Council, the National Sorghum Producers and many others.
