Food Quality Protection Act

Food Quality Protection Act

The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) is a United States federal law that was enacted in 1996. The FQPA amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), two of the main U.S. laws regarding the regulation of pesticides.

Overview

The FQPA establishes a new safety standard for pesticides used in food production. The law mandates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ensure that all pesticides used on food in the United States meet the safety standard of "reasonable certainty of no harm". This standard applies to all raw and processed foods, regardless of where they are grown or consumed.

Provisions

The FQPA includes several key provisions. It requires the EPA to reassess the safety of all existing pesticide tolerances over a 10-year period. The Act also mandates that the EPA consider the special susceptibility of children to pesticides by applying an additional tenfold safety factor when setting and reassessing tolerances.

The FQPA further requires the EPA to consider the cumulative effects of pesticides that have similar mechanisms of toxicity when setting tolerances. The Act also provides for the establishment of a pesticide residue monitoring program and requires public education about the risks associated with exposure to pesticides.

Impact

The FQPA has had a significant impact on the regulation of pesticides in the United States. The Act's stringent safety standard and its requirement for periodic reassessment of pesticide tolerances have led to the banning or restriction of several pesticides that were previously used in food production. The FQPA has also led to increased research into the effects of pesticides on human health and the environment.

See also

• Pesticide regulation in the United States
• Environmental policy of the United States
• History of pesticide use

References

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