[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 8, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-13789] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: June 8, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [OPP-00382; FRL-4870-8] Update of Pesticide Residue Chemistry Guidelines AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Availability and Request for Comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests comments on updated guidance for registrants on the residue data requirements in 40 CFR Part 158 to support registration of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and tolerances under Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The updated guidance consists of a revision of Table II of the Pesticide Assessment Guidelines, Subdivision O, Residue Chemistry, describing raw and processed foods and animal feeds. ADDRESSES: Copies of this proposed updated Table II may be obtained from the Pesticides Docket, Office of Pesticide Programs, Public Response and Program Resources Branch, Rm. 1132, Crystal Mall # 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202, (703) 305-5805. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact by mail: Jerry Stokes, Health Effects Division (7509C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person or by telephone: Rm. 803, Crystal Mall 2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway. Arlington, VA, (703) 305-7561. Comments will be accepted for 75 days following publication of this notice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table II of the Pesticide Assessment Guidelines, Subdivision O, Residue Chemistry, provides a listing of all significant food and feed commodities, both raw and processed, for which residue data are collected and tolerances are set. In addition, for feed commodities, Table II provides (1) the maximum percent of the diet for beef and dairy cattle, poultry and swine, and (2) guidance on which crops EPA believes it would be appropriate to allow lable restrictions prohibiting use of commodities as feeds. As a culmination of a long-term project to update the ``Guide For Estimating Toxic Residues in Animal Feeds or Diets'' (authored by Dr. L. Harris in 1975, and commonly known as the ``Harris Guide'') EPA has updated Table II. This update of Table II was deemed appropriate because there have been significant change in agricultural, processing and feeding practices in the past decade. The update has revised which raw agricultural and processed commodities and livestock feeds are listed in the Table II and the percentage of these items in the diets of animals. More information on the basis for these revisions are included in the updated Table II. In reviewing the data collected on animal fees EPA also reevaluated the policy of allowing as a substitute for data, a label restriction prohibiting the use (or sale) of a commodity for livestock feed purposes. EPA derived three criteria which would be weighed in determining whether to permit label restrictions in lieu of data in the future. More details on the criteria are provided in the revised Table II. Generally, the Agency does not consider it good public policy to regulate pesticides in such a way that growers/farmers using a registered product must then destroy an economically and nutritionally valuable portion of the treated crop. EPA's preliminary view is that there are only four cases: safflower forage, buckwheat forage, lentil forage, and sunflower forage. EPA will reevaluate the appropriateness of label restrictions on a commodity by commodity basis in future registration and tolerance actions. Comments are specifically requested on the Agency's label restriction policy. Comments should provide information, and documentation if available, of the economic value of specific commodities in terms of cash, barter, or as fed directly on the farm. If commodities can practically be diverted from use as a livestock feed, their alternative use or disposal should be explained. After all comments on the updated Table II are received, they will be reviewed and the document revised and if necessary, reissued. As guidelines, EPA will begin with the publication of this notice to use the revised Table II in its evaluation of pesticide registrations and tolerances. EPA realize that in some instances where studies have already begun or are scheduled to begin in the near future, data may not be able to be collected on the commodities that have been added to Table II. EPA believes that six months should be sufficient time for registrants to familiarize themselves with the changes in Table II. For studies begun either prior to the publication of this notice or in the next six months, EPA will be flexible regarding whether studies which do not supply data on the new commodities in Table II are adequate for registration and tolerance purposes and when additional data, if any, will be required to be submitted under EPA's data call-in authority. List of Subjects Environmental protection. Dated: May 31, 1994. Penelope A. Fenner-Crisp, Director, Health Effects Division, Office of Pesticide Programs. [FR Doc. 94-13789 Filed 6-7-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-F-M