This regulation supersedes Secretary's Memorandum 9500-1, December 2, 1981. Pesticides are essential to meet the Nation's needs for food, natural fibers and wood products, to protect human health and manage natural resources and to carry out regulatory responsibilities. Chemical pesticides must be used wisely, safely, and in concert with other effective commodity protection practices. Also they must be used only within limits consistent with the maintenance of human health, food safety, and environmental quality. It is, therefore, the policy of the United States Department of Agriculture to facilitate informed decisions on pesticides that promote and protect agricultural productivity and benefit humans now and in the future without causing unreasonable adverse effects.
Agriculture is confronted with important issues on the use of pesticides and pest control practices.
The EPA must by law review all existing pesticide registrations to determine whether such registrations should be reregistered, modified, or canceled. Valid scientific information, objective analyses and interpretations concerning benefits and risks of pesticides are required to meet these responsibilities. This information is necessary to evaluate the effects of pesticide regulation and use on agricultural productivity as well as the quality and use of soil and water resources. Further, information is developed to determine the effectiveness of regulations and the opportunity to simplify or eliminate regulations. Some important aspects of the program include conducting research on exposure to pesticides and environmental fate as well as collection accurate pesticide use information.