Registration of Chemical Agents for Managing Predation
KATHLEEN A. FAGERSTONE
Section of Chemical Development/Registration, Denver Wildlife Research
Center, Building 16, Box 25266, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, CO 80225-0266
One method for managing predation on wetland birds and their nests is by use of pesticides such as predator toxicants or repellents. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) was amended in 1988 to require the reregistration within nine years of all pesticides registered before 1984. The FIFRA 88 required that all pesticide active ingredients must meet current registration standards and imposed a one-time registration fee and annual registration maintenance fees. New data generated because of FIFRA 88 must conform to EPA's Good Laboratory Practice Standards and animal studies must follow guidelines of the Animal Welfare Act. FIFRA 88 has significantly increased data requirements, data costs, and other pesticide registration and reregistration costs for most pesticides. The increased financial burden is causing industry and governmental agencies to drop minor use registrations that cannot generate sufficient profit to pay for reregistration.
During 1989, over 19,000 pesticide registrations were cancelled because of the imposition of annual maintenance fees levied by FIFRA 88. More registrations will be cancelled in 1990 as registrants find that it is not cost-effective to provide data for many minor use pesticides, such as those used for controlling wetland bird predation. This will result in loss of or further use restrictions for chemicals critical to managing vertebrate pests. In addition, the reregistration process will divert funds from research on alternative pest management practices at a time when that research is critically needed.
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