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The MDA is the lead state agency for pesticide and fertilizer environmental and regulatory functions in Minnesota under the Pesticide Control Law. One of those functions is state-level registration of pesticide products approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Historically, state registration focused on proper labeling, fee collection, registration enforcement, and other requirements under federal and state law.

Additional state-level review was conducted in response to specific post-registration enforcement or label concerns, or in response to regional environmental or human health concerns shared by other states. In 2006, and in response to a Minnesota Legislative Auditor’s report, the MDA initiated an effort to broaden state-level review of pesticide registrations by routinely learning more about new registrations and conducting expanded reviews to better understand Minnesota-specific registration issues. The scope of these special registration reviews varies depending on the potential education, outreach and enforcement needs identified by the Department.

NEW: Final Scoping Document for Chlorpyrifos Special Registration Review Posted

Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide widely used in Minnesota to manage a variety of arthropod pests. Chlorpyrifos is also a source of contamination in multiple surface water bodies in Minnesota and can pose a substantial risk to human health and the environment. As of June 2020, 13 surface water bodies in Minnesota were proposed for designation by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) or designated as impaired by the EPA due to chlorpyrifos water quality standard violations. In 2012, the Commissioner of Agriculture designated chlorpyrifos as a “surface water pesticide of concern.” Chlorpyrifos exposure can lead to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and neurodevelopmental effects in humans. Thus, the Commissioner of Agriculture has directed the Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division to conduct an in-depth special registration review of chlorpyrifos.

The MDA wrote a draft scoping document in collaboration with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Health, and the University of Minnesota to define the focus and topics for consideration of the special registration review of chlorpyrifos. The draft scoping document was made available for a 60-day public comment period (from July 20 to September 17, 2020). The MDA received public comments from 11 groups or individuals. They were thoroughly reviewed, and minor revisions were made to the scoping document. The revised, final, scoping document will be used to guide the review. Documents related to the scoping document can be found below.

Questions and/or requests for more information may be emailed to:

New Pesticide Product Review

The MDA reviews new active ingredients recently approved by the EPA along with currently registered pesticides that have significant new uses or have undergone a major label change.  

In the process of completing a review, the MDA explores a variety of human health and ecological risk issues, and assesses laboratory analytical concerns for tracking potential misuse and non-target impacts. Information on projected crop use and efficacy is gathered from University Extension, user groups, and others. Reviews may also include communication with the EPA or the registrant to request more information about identified concerns. Reviews can lead to an in-depth assessment of specific issues. The MDA expects to review an average of five new active ingredients and several new uses or label changes annually.   

The MDA reviews EPA human health and ecological risk assessment documents and other publicly available product information to learn about new pesticide product issues:

  • Environmental fate/transport; product formulation
  • Projected use patterns; efficacy estimates
  • Label language (enforceability, consistency, understandability)
  • Critical information related to aquatic life, drinking water, worker protection and other exposures of potential concern

New Active Ingredient/New Uses Special Registration Reviews 

In-depth Reviews of Products and Issues

At times, more in-depth reviews are necessary to provide stakeholders and the Commissioner of Agriculture with more information about specific pesticide products and issues. These reviews vary in scope, but are not intended to be redundant of analyses and decisions reached by the EPA during federal registration. When appropriate, the MDA collaborates with agency partners such as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health to complete reviews.

In-depth reviews are initiated in a variety of ways. For example, if after reviewing a new pesticide product, the MDA determines that certain registration issues need additional assessment, the review can be expanded. An in-depth review might also be conducted to learn more about a pesticide topic of interest to the MDA, regulated clientele, state agencies, or other stakeholders. 

In-depth Reviews

 

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