"Reauthorization of Pesticide Registration Improvement Act preserves Worker Protection Standard and safeguards against toxic pesticide exposures."
"The Senate last Thursday [June 28] unanimously passed H.R. 1029, the Pesticide Registration Enhancement Act, which would reauthorize the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) that gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to collect fees to maintain the registration of pesticides.
According to a summary of the bill from the National Sorghum Producers, the bill includes an amendment from Sen. Tom Udall (D., N.M.) that preserves the Worker Protection Standard (WPS), which has been criticized by the agricultural community. Further, a provision under the standard allows workers to designate a representative on their behalf to obtain pesticide and application information. Udall's original effort was to codify the WPS and also ban chlorpyrifos, the active ingredient in Lorsban, but through opposition, he backed off the measure.
The bill also preserves the Certification of Pesticide Applicators (CPA) Rule, which provides key safeguards for farm workers -- particularly child farm workers -- from toxic pesticide exposure."
