EPA Proposes to Stop Authorized Use of Certain PFAS in Pesticide Products

EPA is proposing to remove 12 PFAS substances from the current list of inert ingredients approved for use in pesticide products. Under EPA’s 2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap the Agency is reviewing substances approved as inert ingredients in pesticides and potentially taking action to limit their use. Inert ingredients in pesticides serve to increase effectiveness and product performance including improving the ease of pesticide application and extending shelf life.

The 12 chemical substances proposed for removal are no longer in any registered pesticide product, but EPA believes it is important to remove these chemicals.  This means that a review of available information for these chemicals would be required for their future use in pesticide products. In discussing the proposal Michal Freedhoff, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention stated, “ensuring that these 12 chemicals can no longer be used in pesticides is an important step to protect workers, the public, and our planet from unnecessary PFAS exposure.”