The U.S. EPA Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) met May 20-21 via conference call. As reported in February 2020, Mark Johnson, associate director of environmental programs, was named to the PPDC and will serve on the committee through Dec. 9, 2021. Established in 1995, the PPDC is a diverse group of stakeholders chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide feedback to EPA Office of Pesticide Programs on various pesticide regulatory, policy and program implementation issues.

The meeting agenda was lighter than usual because of COVID-19 and focused on EPA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as updates on EPA’s other activities, including its risk assessments. The agency welcomed more than 20 new PPDC members to new two-year terms at this meeting. 

COVID-19 Response 

• OPP staff provided an overview of the actions the Office of Pesticide Programs has performed to register and inform the public about products available for use against COVID-19.
• EPA is focusing on providing regulatory flexibility to disinfectant registrants. Such flexibility will allow registrants to add emerging viral pathogens to their product claims and to quickly change the source of certain active and inert ingredients. The Agency is also exploring ways to address the PPE shortages.
• EPA is using its emergency response plan developed by the PPDC Public Health Workgroup to guide its response to COVID-19. The Agency is keeping its focus on pesticide-related issues and coordinating internally to ensure staff are working towards the same goals.
• The PPDC will also investigate the establishment of a work group to specifically discuss Agency plans in response to emerging pathogens.

• Emerging Technologies
  
  
  • EPA presented information about various emerging technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and fully electronic labels, and their implications for pesticide regulation in the future.
  • The PPDC discussed issues that may arise from emerging technologies and delays in regulation to meet these technologies. Things like broadband access that is required for the use of UAVs.
  • The PPDC plans to investigate the establishment of a work group to address these concerns.
    
  
  Registration Review
  
  
  
  • EPA provided a detailed overview of the FIFRA risk assessment process to all PPDC members and specifically highlighted the work of each risk assessment department as a molecule moves through the OPP pipeline.
  • EPA is continuing its regular, non-COVID work, and remains on track to complete this round of registration review by October 2022.

• Issue Papers
  
  
  
  • EPA staff opened up the floor to field questions on a wide variety of issue papers they prepared for the meeting. Topics included: Certification of Pesticide Applicators regulation; dicamba; glyphosate; neonicotinoids; and pollinator protection.
  • EPA announced that they are reopening the neonicotinoid registration review process for another 30 days to allow for additional comments. GCSAA already weighed in with public comment on this topic.
  • EPA also announced that EPA Administrator Wheeler wants to form some goals around pollinator protection. EPA is currently working with USDA to host a science workshop in the fall focused on pollinator protection and is also preparing for a webinar series on four pollinator preservation specific topics.

The next PPDC meeting will be held in Q4 of 2020. Please reach out to Chava McKeel, director of government affairs, if you have questions about the work of this important federal advisory committee.