Pesticides: Regulating Pesticides

Public participation is an important aspect of EPA’s Pesticide Program. Beginning October 1, 2009, the public can review and comment on the risk assessments and proposed registration decisions for certain pesticide registration actions. This new public process, which expands the transparency of the Agency's pesticide registration decisions, applies to new pesticide active ingredients, and to the first food use, first outdoor use, and first residential use for currently registered active ingredients.

How the Public Process Works

Upon receiving a complete application for registration for a new pesticide active ingredient or for any new use of an already registered active ingredient, EPA publishes a Federal Register Notice of Receipt, establishes a case docket in regulations.gov, and opens an initial 30-day public comment. If the registration application meets the criteria for the new additional process, EPA opens another 30-day public comment period once the Agency’s risk assessments and proposed decision for the registration application are added to the docket. This second comment period is announced on the Pesticide Registration Application Status page. Though the second comment period is not announced in a second Federal Register Notice, it utilizes the same docket as the initial Notice of Receipt and comment period. After the final comment period closes, EPA publishes its decision and a response-to-comment document typically within 30-90 days, depending on the nature and volume of comments received.

Information About Pesticide Registration Actions

EPA posts links to the risk assessments, proposed registration decisions, and the Dockets where the public can submit comments on the Pesticide Registration Application Status Web page.

About public involvement - Information about EPA's Agency-level public involvement policies and programs.