In June of 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a statement that gave options to handle the shortage of respirators when required as personal protective equipment (PPE). The options as reported in the June 11, 2020 eNewsletter are:

• Use a NIOSH-approved respirator that meets or exceeds the level of protection of the respirator required by the pesticide label.
• Use an alternative pesticide that fits the intended use but does not require a respirator.
• If possible, delay the use of using the pesticide until additional compliance options become available.
  

If these compliance options are exhausted, the EPA provided these options:

• Extend the use or reuse disposable N95 filter facepiece respirators.
• Use filter facepiece respirators that are beyond their recommended service life.
• Use filter facepiece respirators that have been certified in other countries or jurisdictions.