EPA moves to require public disclosure of 'inert' pesticide ingredients

A large portion of the ingredients in most pesticides are categorized as "inert," and manufacturers aren't required to make them public. That exemption may be gone soon, as the Environmental Protection Agency announced on Dec. 22 it was proposing a rule requiring public disclosure of all pesticide ingredients, Marla Cone of Environmental Health News reports. An inert ingredient is any that does not kill or control a pest, but it may still be toxic. Environmental groups first petitioned EPA for full disclosure 11 years ago.

Current law requires companies disclose all ingredients to EPA, but now the agency wants to make that disclosure public. "We believe these products already have been regulated to protect public health," Jay Vroom, chief executive officer of CropLife America, which represents pesticide manufacturers, told Cone. "What is confusing is why the agency has been out talking about these products as hazardous inert ingredients. To me, that’s an oxymoron." EPA has said it will seek "a significant amount of input" from stakeholders, the pesticide industry, environmentalists and other experts, as they craft the new rule "because of the magnitude of the change and the difficult issues facing the agency." (Read more) You can also read EPA's background information about the rule.