ABSTRACT
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires that all pesticide products sold or distributed in commerce be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Prior to the establishment of the EPA, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) registered pesticides under FIFRA. Although the EPA registers pesticide products, most of the data requirements and regulatory activities under FIFRA have traditionally focused on the active ingredient. The strategy outlined in the Federal Register notice of April 22, 1987 was based on the use of the inerts lists as a prioritization tool for regulatory and data gathering activities. The EPA was attempting to increase the significance of toxicity as a selection criterion for pesticide registrants when determining which inert ingredient to use in the formulation of their products. The announcement of the Inert Strategy also included a set of data required to obtain approval of a new inert ingredient.
