Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Registration of Chemical Agents for Managing Predation
KATHLEEN A. FAGERSTONE
Section of Chemical Development/Registration, Denver Wildlife Research
Center, Building 16, Box 25266, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, CO 80225-0266
One method for managing predation on wetland birds and their nests is by use
of pesticides such as predator toxicants or repellents. The Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) was amended in 1988 to require the reregistration
within nine years of all pesticides registered before 1984. The FIFRA 88 required
that all pesticide active ingredients must meet current registration standards
and imposed a one-time registration fee and annual registration maintenance
fees. New data generated because of FIFRA 88 must conform to EPA's Good Laboratory
Practice Standards and animal studies must follow guidelines of the Animal Welfare
Act. FIFRA 88 has significantly increased data requirements, data costs, and
other pesticide registration and reregistration costs for most pesticides. The
increased financial burden is causing industry and governmental agencies to
drop minor use registrations that cannot generate sufficient profit to pay for
reregistration.
During 1989, over 19,000 pesticide registrations were cancelled because
of the imposition of annual maintenance fees levied by FIFRA 88. More registrations
will be cancelled in 1990 as registrants find that it is not cost-effective
to provide data for many minor use pesticides, such as those used for controlling
wetland bird predation. This will result in loss of or further use restrictions
for chemicals critical to managing vertebrate pests. In addition, the reregistration
process will divert funds from research on alternative pest management practices
at a time when that research is critically needed.
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the Use of the Avicide DRC-1339
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