Environmental Justice Tracker

EJ Tracker Update

EPA Announced New Protections Against Pesticide Drift

Last updated:

July 15, 2024

Statute

FIFRA, Other Statute

Agencies

EPA

Actions

Guidance/Policy

EPA issued guidance implementing new measures to protect farmworkers, their families, and nearby communities from pesticide drift. Under the new guidance, EPA will assess the risk of pesticide drift earlier in the review process for new pesticide registrations. This was a marked departure from the previous process, which did not require EPA to undertake a drift analysis under FIFRA until 15 years after the original registration of a new pesticide. EPA expected that the new guidance would provide greater protections for farmworkers and people in surrounding communities from pesticide use by bringing all pesticides, new and old, under the same standards.