Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), enacted on June 25, 1947, is a crucial piece of U.S. legislation that regulates the registration and use of pesticide products. This law emerged from growing public concern in the late 19th century about the unregulated use of toxic chemicals in agriculture. FIFRA established a framework for the federal government's oversight of pesticide marketing and labeling, ensuring that products entering the market undergo scientific review for safety and effectiveness by the Department of Agriculture.
The act aimed to mitigate the risks associated with pesticide exposure, protecting both human health and the environment. In the aftermath of World War II, there was a surge in the development of toxic chemicals, prompting industries to seek new applications for these substances, including in food production. Subsequent revisions in the 1970s further strengthened regulations, transferring authority to the Environmental Protection Agency for the registration of new pesticide products. Overall, FIFRA plays a significant role in balancing agricultural practices with public safety and environmental health.
Subject Terms
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
THE LAW: U.S. legislation that established the role of the federal government in regulation of pesticides
DATE: Enacted on June 25, 1947
SIGNIFICANCE: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act established firm guidelines for the registration and use of pesticide products in the United States, resulting in a significant reduction in harm to humans and other animals from exposure to pesticides.
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1947 (FIFRA) represented the culmination of events in which the food and chemical industries in the United States began a merger of practices. In the late nineteenth century, American consumers began to be alarmed—with some justification—by farmers’ practice of applying insecticides and other toxic chemicals to crops haphazardly. The Insecticide Act of 1910 and various so-called pure food and drug laws were early attempts to regulate such chemicals.
During the 1940s, a large number of toxic chemicals were developed as a result of the war effort. With the end of World War II, industries attempted to find other uses for chemicals that were no longer in short supply. Some of the chemicals had potential applications as insecticides or pesticides, and it was logical for the manufacturers to look for uses for them in the food industry. At the time, it was estimated that nearly 200 million bushels of corn and small grain could be added to the market if a of some 140 million rats could be brought under control.
With FIFRA’s passage by Congress in 1947, the federal government began to oversee the labeling and marketing of all pesticides and fungicides entering the US marketplace. The act required a scientific review by members of the Department of Agriculture of any chemicals introduced into the interstate market and also required such chemicals to be packaged with proper labeling of claims and precautions. Revisions to FIFRA during the 1970s strengthened federal oversight of pesticides and fungicides, including requiring the registration of new products with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Avanasi, Raghavendhran, et al. "How Protective Is the Pesticide Risk Assessment and Registration Process to Humans in the United States?" Journal of Regulatory Science, vol. 11, no. 1, 2023. DOI: 10.21423/JRS.REGSCI.111249. Accessed 17 July 2024.
"Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and Federal Facilities." US Environmental Protection Agency, 15 Feb. 2024, www.epa.gov/enforcement/federal-insecticide-fungicide-and-rodenticide-act-fifra-and-federal-facilities. Accessed 17 July 2024.