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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 247 (Thursday, December 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 105044-105045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30742]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0521; FRL-12356-01-OCSPP]

Pesticides; Spanish Translation Guide for Pesticide Labeling; 
Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is 
announcing the availability of an updated guide for pesticide 
registrants to translate parts of their pesticide product labels into 
Spanish. The Spanish Translation Guide for Pesticide Labeling (STGPL) 
is written based on a universal form of Spanish to reach as many 
Spanish speakers as possible and provide example translations for 
language typically used in the health and safety sections of pesticide 
product labels.

DATES: This guide is effective December 26, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this action, identified by docket 
identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0521, is available online at 
https://www.regulations.gov. Additional information about dockets 
generally, along with instructions for visiting the docket in-person, 
is available at https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Bartow Pesticide Re-evaluation 
Division (7508M), Office of Pesticide Programs, Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 566-2280 email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Executive Summary

A. Does this action apply to me?

    This action is directed to the general public and may be of 
specific interest to persons or entities that register or use pesticide 
products. Since a potentially broad range of entities may be interested 
in this action, the Agency has not attempted to describe all the 
specific entities that may be interested. If you have any questions 
regarding the applicability of this guidance to a particular entity or 
registration action, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. What is the Agency's authority for taking this action?

    Pesticide registration activities are governed by the Federal 
Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136 et 
seq., which was amended by the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act 
of 2022 (PRIA 5) on December 29, 2022. PRIA 5 amended FIFRA section 
4(k) to require the safety and health portions of pesticide product 
labels to be translated into Spanish. PRIA 5 provides deadlines for 
bilingual labeling to appear on pesticide products on a rolling 
schedule from December 29, 2025, to December 29, 2030, with 
translations for the most hazardous and toxic pesticide products 
required first. PRIA 5 also requires the Agency to notify registrants 
within 10 days of updating the Spanish Translation Guide.

C. What action is the Agency taking?

    EPA is announcing that an updated Spanish Translation Guide for 
Pesticide Labeling (STGPL) is available on the Agency web page to help 
guide pesticide registrants translate parts of their pesticide product 
labels into Spanish. EPA generally allows pesticide registrants to 
translate their product labels into any language so long as there is an 
EPA-approved English version of the label, and the translation is true 
and accurate.
    For additional information about bilingual labeling for pesticide 
products, go to https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-labels/bilingual-labeling.

II. Background

    EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) originally released the 
STGPL to the public in 2019 in response to concerns voiced by 
farmworker advocates, who argued that having bilingual pesticide 
labeling is critical to the well-being and protection of pesticide 
applicators and farmworkers who may be exposed to pesticides, many of 
whom in the U.S. may not be English literate. This more recent version 
of the STGPL includes changes or updates following stakeholder 
feedback, a sampling of current labeling, and statements from the 2021 
Label Review Manual (LRM) that had not previously been included. These 
updates are comprised of additional language examples for different 
sections, updates made based on the LRM, and entirely new sections 
inserted with examples.
    The STGPL is a resource for pesticide registrants to use for the 
translation of the required human health and safety sections on 
pesticide labeling from English to Spanish. Only these sections are 
necessary for translation to ensure that workers have access to 
important information to protect themselves from pesticide exposure, 
and to get appropriate help if exposed to a pesticide product. While 
use of the specific language from the STGPL is not required, EPA 
encourages use of the language in the STGPL to ensure translations are 
``true and accurate'' per the responsibility of the registrant.

III. Do guidance documents contain binding requirements?

    The STGPL is intended to provide guidance to pesticide registrants 
and EPA personnel and decision makers. While the requirements in the 
statutes and Agency regulations are binding on EPA and the pesticide 
registrants, the STGPL does not impose binding requirements on the 
Agency or any outside parties. As guidance, EPA may depart from the 
guidance where circumstances warrant and without prior notice. 
Likewise, pesticide registrants may assert that the guidance is not 
appropriate generally or not applicable to a specific pesticide or 
situation.
    EPA encourages the use of the language in the STGPL to ensure that 
translations of the English text are ``true

[[Page 105045]]

and accurate.''. Although use of the specific language from the STGPL 
is not required, the registrant is still responsible for ensuring that 
``true and accurate'' Spanish translations are included for each 
section of the label that is included in the Agency's STGPL.
    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.

    Dated: December 18, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024-30742 Filed 12-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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