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Industry Information >>Agriculture>>Pesticide manufacturers are still using the law to artificially segment

Pesticide manufacturers are still using the law to artificially segment

Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson has urged the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) to continue working to develop a NorthAmerican market for pesticides within the next five years.

"Although the EPA and Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency(PMRA) have approved four NAFTA pesticide labels to date, too fewof these labels have actually been issued," Johnson said. "In somecases, pesticide manufacturers are still using the law toartificially segment the U.S. and Canadian pesticide markets to the detriment of producers in both countries."

In comments submitted to the EPA earlier this week, on the proposedfive-year strategy for its NAFTA Technical Working Group (TWG) onPesticides, Johnson said the TWG has done an outstanding job indeveloping the NAFTA labeling, but that "now we need to focusefforts on increasing the adoption of NAFTA labeling byregistrants."

The proposed strategy includes providing U.S, Canadian and Mexicangrowers with equal access to and simultaneous introduction ofpesticides; using each country's re-evaluation programs to thefullest in registering older pesticides, and integrating "smart"business approaches and practices into TWG work.

"The Technical Working Group (TWG) needs to remain focused oncreating a North American pesticide market," Johnson said, urgingthe TWG to make the creation of the market a stand-alone objectivein their five-year plan.

Johnson also recommended that the TWG additionally adopt fourtactics to establish a common pesticide market for the U.S., Canadaand Mexico. These include:

-- Adopting Internet-based pesticide labeling;

-- Mandating the use of NAFTA labeling for all products undergoingjoint registration review among two or more countries;

-- Adopting regulatory changes to improve information exchangeamong regulatory agencies.

-- Working with U.S. and Canadian customs officials to harmonizeimport requirements and processes.

Johnson said adoption of a North American market is especiallyimportant to producers in border states such as North Dakota.

"While the current devaluation of the U.S. dollar has eliminatedmany of the pesticide price disparities between the U.S. and Canadaand convinced some that price disparities are no longer an issue,the exchange rate will eventually revert to the levels seen in thelate 1990s and early 2000s," he said. "Growers will again suffersignificant competitive disadvantages unless we create a processfor the widespread adoption and use of NAFTA labeling."

Johnson complimented EPA for the increased number of jointregistration reviews, but said incentives need to be in place toencourage manufacturers to use the joint process.


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