Which federal law requires that all pesticides meet new safety standards?

• A. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
• B. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
• C. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
• D. Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)

Answer: (D)

This item tests understanding of which law changed how pesticides are evaluated for safety. The Food Quality Protection Act requires that pesticides meet new, more protective safety standards. It introduced a framework where the EPA must base risk assessments on a reasonable certainty of no harm, consider aggregate exposures from all sources (including dietary and worker exposure), and place extra emphasis on protecting children. It also pushed for re-evaluation of existing pesticide tolerances to ensure they meet these stricter standards.

The other laws serve different purposes: FIFRA governs how pesticides are registered, labeled, and used; CERCLA addresses cleanup of hazardous waste sites; OSHA sets workplace safety standards for exposure to chemicals.