Activists Fear 'Micro' Products May Escape Oversight Under EPA Nano Policy

摘要

EPA is facing early concern from environmentalists and some industry groups that its upcoming definition of nanoscale materials in pesticides may preclude regulation of "micro" materials, some of which - such as microcopper - are highly toxic and should be regulated.EPA is expected to soon announce a new policy that would use the agency's existing authority under section 6(a)(2) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, & Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to require reporting of the presence of nanomaterials in pesticides. The policy is expected to define nanomaterials as particles that range in size between 1 and 100 nanometers in at least one dimension, according to Bill Jordan, senior policy adviser for EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), who described the new policy to the Pesticide Programs Dialogue Committee (PPDC) in April.