Pesticides with Reduced Risk Characteristics

During the past decade a reduced risk pesticide registration program has been in operation in the United States (Racke, 1992). The general principle of the reduced risk pesticide registration program in the U.S. is to give registration priority and accelerated approval to products with the most favorable characteristics as compared to currently available alternatives (EPA, 1997). The overall objective is to accelerate the introduction of these types of products so that marketplace choices rather than increased regulatory restrictions can lead to replacement of older products and technologies with newer ones. Under the program, pesticides classified as “reduced risk” products must meet several or all of the following criteria as compared with currently available alternatives: $\textbullet$ Reduced risks to human health $\textbullet$ Reduced risks to non-target organisms (e.g., fish, birds) $\textbullet$ Reduced potential for contamination of environmental resources (water, air, soil) $\textbullet$ Broadened adoption of integrated pest management