The Need for Transition When FQPA aggregate or cumulative risk assessments conclude that risk reduction measures are needed, producers of agricultural commodities will be faced with making transitions to new methods of pest management. The process must pinpoint areas where pesticides play a vital role in IPM and resistance management programs.
Timetables are critical to transition strategies.
Replacement pest management tools must be identified, and the path and schedule for their availability determined. Some commodity production schemes could face disruption when a critical pesticide will be lost and there are no identified alternatives. Research, possibly long-term research, could be a likely part of transition strategies in these cases. Continued critical uses could be available through regulatory options such as phase outs, temporary tolerances, etc. during a specified transition period. Planning and information gathering for transition must begin, even before FQPA assessments are completed.