In all these programs, OPP relies heavily on cooperative relationships and regular communication with regional offices, state and tribal pesticide regulatory agencies, other public and private organizations, and individuals. AD provides full regulatory services for all antimicrobial pesticides which includes product registrations, amendments, and reregistrations. This does not include products which target microorganisms on living man or living animals, yet it encompasses pesticides with a wide array of uses. For example, products regulated by antimicrobial pesticides act as preserving agents in paints, metalworking fluids, wood supports, and many other products to prevent their deterioration. The products regulated by the Antimicrobials Division are varied.
Antimicrobials are especially important because many are public health pesticides.
They help to control microorganisms that can cause human disease. Antimicrobial public health pesticides are used as disinfectants in medical settings, and EPA also registers many consumer products as disinfectants, which consumers use to decrease the number of microbes on surfaces. Public health pesticides are reviewed for efficacy as well as safety. Approximately 5,000 antimicrobial pesticide products registered with EPA contain one or more of 256 active ingredients. For much of its history, the primary function of OPP has been to register and regulate pesticides, particularly chemical pesticides.