Which agency regulates the manufacture and labeling of pesticides?

• A. OSHA
• B. EPA
• C. DOT
• D. FDA

Answer: (B)

Regulatory oversight of pesticide manufacture and labeling is handled by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA registers pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), evaluating the safety and efficacy of products, approving their labels, and enforcing the requirements that manufacturers and users follow the label directions. The label becomes a legal document that specifies how the product can be used, what precautions to take, first-aid information, and safety warnings, and manufacturers must adhere to these standards to sell the product.

Other agencies don’t fit this primary role. OSHA focuses on workplace safety and worker exposure rather than product registration or labeling. The Department of Transportation regulates the shipping and transportation of hazardous materials, including pesticides in transit, but not their manufacture and labeling at the source. The FDA handles foods, drugs, and certain consumer products, but the core responsibility for pesticide regulation and labeling falls to the EPA under FIFRA.