Consumer Specialty Products Association

The Consumer Specialty Products (CSPA) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) called the Pesticide Registration Improvement Renewal Act (S 1983) that President Bush signed into law yesterday a win for the public health, the environment and responsible government regulation.

"We commend President Bush for his support of this important legislation that will provide long-term stable funding for EPA," said Phil Klein, CSPA's senior vice president of legislative and public affairs. "Among other things, the new law will reduce the time required to bring new innovative public health products to market while ensuring a comprehensive review of pesticides every 15 years."

Both the original legislation and its renewal had broad support from a unique coalition of environmental and labor organizations and pesticide registrants (including agricultural and non-agricultural uses, antimicrobial companies, large and small companies, and biotech and biopesticide companies).

"PRIA is about protecting public health and the environment and this is a landmark victory for both," said Heather Taylor, deputy legislative director, NRDC. "We've worked with industry both times to introduce and pass successful PRIA legislation. Clearly, when we work together on issues of health concerning both the public and environment, we can all win."

The original Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (passed in 2003, but scheduled to expire in 2008) provided approximately $200 million in fees to increase and stabilize funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP). The renewal legislation extends the assessment of those fees in industry through 2012, adding significant funding stability to EPA OPP.

The coalition supporting PRIA reauthorization included: American Chemistry Council Biocides Panel, Biotechnology Industry Organization, Biopesticide Industry Alliance, Chemical Producers & Distributors Association, Consumer Specialty Products Association, CropLife America, International Sanitary Supply Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Protected Harvest, and the Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment.

CSPA represents the manufacturers of consumer household pest management and antimicrobial (disinfecting) products. NRDC is a leading national environmental organization.

Source:news.thomasnet.com