The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final approval of 67 updated plans for certifying applicators of ‘restricted use pesticides (RUP)’.
The announcement allows all U.S. regions to continue certifying applicators of RUPs but will also require them to adhere to higher safety standards. RUPs are pesticides that are either extremely toxic or must be applied with extreme caution. They can only be used by certified applicators or individuals under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.
History
To review and approve the revised plans, the EPA collaborated closely with state, territory, and tribal certifying authorities. Since the spring of 2022, the agency has approved plans on a rolling basis.
The 2017 Certification of Pesticide Applicators (CPA) rule updated the regulations to establish stricter requirements for those who apply for RUPs. The rule required authorities certifying RUP applicators to submit revised plans to EPA for approval by November 4, 2023, an extended deadline.
Key highlights
- The top priority of the EPA is the protection of the human health and environment.
- The updated plans include enhanced competency requirements, new specialized categories, minimum age restrictions and recertification requirements.
- Over the past three years, EPA has coordinated with certifying authorities from all 50 states, 5 territories, 6 federal agencies, and 6 tribes.
The Certification of Pesticide Applicators, i.e., CPA’s next stage has started as certifying bodies to improve their certification programs in accordance with the timelines and standards outlined in their plans. You can find EPA-approved certification plans on the ‘Certification Plan and Reporting Database’ (CPARD).
Reference: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/epa-approves-strengthened-pesticide-safety-plans-certifying-applicators
