GCSAA publishes specialized information on a frequent basis that drills down on top advocacy issues and activities.
Update: On March 8, PRIA was signed into law by President Trump. View the White House announcement.
On Feb. 25, the U.S. House of Representatives passed by unanimous consent the fourth iteration of the Pesticide Registration and Improvement Act, with the Senate following suit a few days later. PRIA is the funding mechanism for the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, which is tasked with reviewing, registering, and approving all new pesticide products before they come to market. PRIA 4 reauthorizes the program through 2023.
The bill extends the program that charges fees to pesticide registrants for EPA review of their chemicals, increasing those fees. It includes provisions to encourage speedier review of pesticide registration applications at EPA. Furthermore, it calls for a Government Accountability Office study related to worker safety and health, and it would direct EPA to implement final rules on worker protection standards and certification of pesticide applicators from 2015 and 2017, without changes. Finally, it calls for closer examination of pesticides claiming efficacy against bedbugs, fire ants and other pests "of significant public health or economic importance.
GCSAA has supported long-term reauthorization of PRIA to create a more predictable pesticide registration and re-registration review process of active ingredients used on golf courses. EPA collects PRIA application fees paid by manufacturers to ensure timely evaluation of new innovative pest control products. GCSAA has actively lobbied in support of PRIA 4 for the past year and just recently was signatory to a PRIA 4 support letter sent to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership.
Chris Novak, CEO of Croplife America (the sister organization of RISE), reacted to passage of the bill by saying, "PRIA represents a collaborative effort between a diverse group of organizations ranging from agriculture, commercial pesticide users, state and federal regulators and environmental advocacy groups. This law provides certainty for consumers, farmers and our members, ensuring pesticides are reviewed and re-reviewed in a thorough and timely manner."
GCSAA will continue to work with the PRIA Coalition to ensure the bill’s signature by the President.