Position Paper
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Endocrine Disruptor Testing
Endocrine disruptors include natural and synthetic substances which mimic the effects of male and female hormones. The pesticide industry is actively involved in a new program by EPA which seeks to determine if these substances, including pesticides, have the potential to interact with human hormonal systems. |
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Background
In 1996, two pieces of legislation – the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments – directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and launch the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). The EDSP program was intended to determine if synthetic substances such as pesticides, along with other environmental chemicals, have the potential to interact with human hormonal systems. Industry supports the safety of registered pesticides and believes that the EDSP must be based on efficient review of sound scientific data which is not duplicative of registration review and therefore unnecessarily burdensome.
CropLife America's Position
- CropLife America believes that any conclusions about potential interactions with hormonal systems must be based entirely on validated assays and robust data evaluated using a transparent weight-of-evidence based on the best available science.
- CropLife America encourages EPA to conduct the Tier 1 EDSP screen using previously submitted, "functionally equivalent" product data where possible.
- CropLife America urges EPA to issue EDSP procedures which will ensure that the enormous costs of screening and testing pesticide ingredients will be kept down through minimization of duplicative testing.
