NPMA Participates in the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee Meeting
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NPMA staff spent a few days last week at EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs Headquarters in Crystal City to participate in the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC), a Federal Advisory Committee Tasked to advise EPA on pesticide issues. Topics for discussion ranged from agricultural herbicides to resistance management. Of particular interest were discussion on Managed Pollinator Protection Plan (MP3) Metrics, PPDC’s new Public Health Workgroup and the Certification and Training Rule.
The MP3 Metrics workgroup, on which NPMA staff has participated since its inception last fall presented its proposal to the full PPDC for consideration. The proposal outlined a method through which EPA could identify if the plans developed by states were achieving their desired effect increasing communication and understanding between the various stakeholders involved in pollinator protection. The PPDC approved of the proposal and encouraged EPA to adopt the plan.
NPMA staff was appointed to the PPDC Public Health Workgroup and participated in the first workgroup meeting on Tuesday afternoon. The group developed its mission to read: This Public Health Workgroup, formed under the auspices of the EPA Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC), will focus on policy, advice, information and recommendations regarding pest management methods that control public health pests. The workgroup will provide recommendations to the PPDC for consideration and sharing with the Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the workgroup identified three major work areas: 1. Communication, 2. Development of a National Strategy for Emerging Public Health Threats and Natural/Manmade Disasters, and 3. Resistance Management.
EPA staff reported on the status of the Certification and Training Rule, which is currently delayed due to a request from state lead agencies that more time was needed to updated regulations and statutes pertaining to pesticide applicator certification. The rule is currently slated for implementation in May 2018, but is currently being challenged in court.
