Regulations

Regulatory agencies have established a science-based, responsible, and balanced approach to pesticide use. To be brought to market, all pesticides undergo a rigorous review process and are continually reevaluated to ensure they meet current scientific standards.

Specialty pesticide and fertilizer products used to control insects, weeds, and diseases have been thoroughly tested for effects on health and the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates and enforces pesticide testing, registration, labeling, and use. State and local governments cooperate in applicator training and certification and often have additional pesticide requirements. This rigorous process, including scientific reviews of product data, the impact on people and the environment, and effectiveness, can take up to 10 years before a new product is registered for sale.

To register a pesticide for public use, the EPA must conclude, based on all of the required studies, that the pesticide may be used as directed without undue risk to people, pets, wildlife, or the environment. The EPA requires up to 120 tests, many to evaluate environmental and health impacts. The testing, evaluation, EPA registration, and label approval now costs as much as $301 million and takes an average of 12.3 years to bring a pesticide active ingredient to the market, according to a February 2024 study by AgBioInvestor.com. Only one in 140,000 potential products make it from the research lab to the market. In addition, EPA monitors and evaluates pesticides to ensure that products already on the market continue to meet scientific and regulatory requirements for health, safety, and environmental effects. All products are continually reevaluated by the EPA to ensure they meet current scientific standards.