Both the Senate and House of Representatives have signed a bill that would reauthorize a law that establishes a more streamlined pesticide registration process at EPA. The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) was originally developed in 2003, reauthorized in 2007 and is set to expire Sept. 30 if the President doesn't sign the reauthorization. He is expected to sign the bill before the Sept. 30 deadline.
The latest bill allows for new decision making time frames for labels, new chemical categories and a new electronic tracking system. It also better complies with the Endangered Species Act by enhancing species impacts data collection.
Under PRIA, EPA collects fees from pesticide registrants and agrees to meet predetermined deadlines.