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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed a 10-year review of 231 food-use pesticides authorized under the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). The law requires the EPA to establish more stringent safety standards for pesticides.

The results of the review show that most pesticides are being used safely in the United States for crop production as well as in turf, nurseries and landscapes and in the home.

"There was concern this review would be a major train wreck for all farmers who use these products," said Adam Sharp, OFBF's director of national affairs. Sharp said that ultimately most products important to farmers have been kept. In addition, newer, safer products came on the market in the 10 years it took to complete the review.

One thing that helped the EPA understand the need for such pesticides was a so-called Carat Committee advisory group. Included in that group was OFBF First Vice President Jeff Zellers, who is also vice president of K.W. Zellers & Son, Inc., a family operation that grows, packs and ships fresh salad vegetables that are distributed throughout the eastern United States.

"I am cautiously optimistic about the outcome," Zellers said, "because some environmental groups could still sue if they want a certain product to be taken off the market."

Despite the threat of litigation, "fruit and vegetable growers are happy that many organophosphates received a clean bill of health," said OFBF's Director of Specialty Crop Programs Tom Sachs. Organophosphates are a group of about 40 relatively inexpensive pesticides used on many food crops as well as in residential and commercial buildings and for ornamental plants and lawn care, which means that people may be exposed to them on a regular basis. Pesticides are known to cause nervous system problems to humans in large doses; however, the EPA has since determined that risks associated with organophosphates do not exceed established safety parameters.

However, Sachs said apple growers in particular are concerned about the phase-out of azinphos-methyl, or AZM. The EPA has proposed phasing out the uses of AZM on apples, blueberries, cherries, parsley and pears by 2010.

OFBF has filed comments with the EPA regarding the continued need for this pesticide.

To read more about FQPA on the Internet, go to www.epa.gov and click on pesticides.