Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the results of its implementation of testing requirements issued in 2010 under the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). These requirements mandate that companies manufacturing or importing any of the following nine chemicals as inert ingredients in pesticides must provide test data:
acetone(CAS:67-64-1)
isophorone(CAS:78-59-1)
di-sec-octyl phthalate(CAS:117-81-7)
toluene(CAS:108-88-3)
methyl ethyl ketone(CAS:78-93-3)
butyl benzyl phthalate(CAS:85-68-7)
dibutyl phthalate(CAS:84-74-2)
diethyl phthalate(CAS:84-66-2)
dimethyl phthalate(CAS:131-11-3)
According to the testing requirements, some companies have agreed to provide data on the two inert ingredients, acetone and isophorone, and have the right to revise this data. However, no company has yet provided data on the other seven inert ingredients.
Because di-sec-octyl phthalate and toluene meet the endocrine substance testing standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the US EPA intends to issue new testing requirements for these two chemicals. However, for the five chemicals methyl ethyl ketone, butyl benzyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and dimethyl phthalate, the US EPA does not intend to issue new testing requirements and proposes to prohibit their use as inert substances in pesticides.
The US EPA welcomes data and comments from all parties. The deadline for submitting comments is May 14, 2012.
Sources: Federal Register (2012-03-14) (Compiled by PIDC)