NPMA is working hard to represent the structural pest control industry and its unique pesticide use patterns to state and federal regulatory agencies. Our industry is highly regulated by both the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the state lead agencies that act as co-regulators in accordance with the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFIRA). Our approach is to vigorously defend the important public health, food defense, and structural protection use patterns that NPMA members utilize while managing risks to applicators and the environment.
Fumigants are an extremely important group of pest management products that are used to protect foods and structures from injury from pests. In accordance with the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) structural fumigants are currently undergoing registration review with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Registration review is a comprehensive review performed by EPA that occurs every 15 years to assess impacts on human health and the environment based on current standards and data. In addition to the registration review process, fumigants have come under scrutiny from the EPA office of Inspector General following high profile incidents regarding fumigants in the US Virgin Islands and Florida.
Pyrethroids are a class of insecticides that are designed to mimic the control action of naturally occurring botanical insecticides called pyrethrins. Pyrethroids are the most widely used group of products and are essential to the pest management industry for controlling dangerous and damaging pests like termites, bed bugs, stinging insects, cockroaches and ants. Few alternatives are available to the professional pest management industry, which makes the protection of pyrethroids even more vital to our industry.
Rodenticide are one of the most important tools that pest management professionals employ to reduce and eliminate rodent populations that can negatively impact public health through the transmission of various dangerous and deadly diseases. Rodenticides are an invaluable tool in any integrated pest management plan to deter rodents. Rodenticides are approved for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after undergoing comprehensive human health and ecological risk assessments that uses the most current science-based information and peer-reviewed scrutiny.
Neonicotinoids are an essential tool for protecting public health and property. Neonicotinoids are important for controlling many dangerous and deadly pests such as mosquitoes that harbor the harrowing Zika virus, cockroaches that contaminate our vital food supply, structure-crippling termites, and bed bugs that wreak havoc on our businesses, homes, and peace of mind.
If we disengage from the policymaking process at any point, we put vital tools for protecting public health and property at risk. On a daily basis, various groups perpetuate emotional arguments and misinformation on pesticides that are not based on sound science. What these anti-pesticide groups won’t tell the public is that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts comprehensive human health and ecological risk assessments and exhausts immense resources on the registration and review of pesticides and uses the most current science-based information and peer-reviewed scrutiny. Our industry is on the side of science to protect American businesses, families and their homes.
NPMA has been a leader in promoting integrated pest management (IPM) in sensitive settings with specific focus on schools. Through training opportunities, the availability of the QualityPro IPM Schools Certification and data collected through a joint survey with the Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials (ASPCRO), this section will provide NPMA members with the resources they need to properly comply with regulations and develop a comprehensive program for schools. Additionally, NPMA collaborates with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on their Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP), as a gold member in assisting companies achieve this recognition when performing Integrated Pest Management, specifically in schools.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) was signed into law on December 28, 1973, and provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened and the conservation of the ecosystems on which they depend. ESA’s intent to protect and preserve species and their habitats is vital and necessary to conserve American ecosystems and our tremendous natural resources.
Over the past 5 years there has been specific attention as to Pollinator Health and steps that industry can take to promote good practices when performing pest management services near places that pollinators live and forage. These efforts have included multiple webinars, the publication of the structural pest management industry’s best management practices (BMPS) for pollinators, a professional and consumer website focused on pollinator health and a full set of resources that depict new labels, information on product use and free online education courses designed for technicians. As pollinator health continues to be an important focus over the next decade, NPMA will continually post information on regulatory, training, and use decisions as they are developed.