Which federal agency is responsible for registering or licensing pesticide products for use in the United States?

• A. National Institute of Health
• B. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• C. Department of Agriculture
• D. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Answer: (B)

Pesticide products in the United States are registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The EPA evaluates each product to ensure it is safe for people, non-target organisms, and the environment, and it reviews the labeling and directions for use. Only after this review and approval can a product be sold and used, with specific labeling that tells users how and where it can be applied, any precautions, and required protective equipment.

Other agencies don’t register pesticides. The NIH focuses on health research and does not handle pesticide product registration. The USDA deals with agricultural policy and pest management policy, but not the registration of pesticide products. The CPSC regulates consumer product safety, not pesticides, and while the FDA enforces safety standards for foods (including tolerances for pesticide residues), it does not register pesticides.