Pesticide Reform Movement

Below are important updates on helping to advance health protections for farmworking families.

Federal Preemption Attempt

Pesticide regulation falls under combined laws among federal, state and local laws. At the federal level, the Federal, Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is the primary law governing pesticide registration and use.

At the state level, the state can pass laws regulating pesticides so long as they do not conflict with the FIFRA. States can regulate sales or use within its borders—again, as long as it does not conflict with the FIFRA. In addition, states can—and often do in California—register pesticides to address local state needs without being preempted.

More recently, members of Congress have proposed amendments as part of the Farm Bill that would block states (and local governments) from setting their own safeguards or pesticide standards. And while there is a lot more to this—the Farm Bill itself holds so much to unpack—here we will focus on provisions/amendments that have been added to the bill that take away states’ rights to protect the right of farmers, consumers and workers to hold pesticide companies accountable for their harmful products.

Environmental justice communities are disproportionately affected by environmental exposures. When federal preemption limits local action, it can make it harder for communities to advocate for policies that protect their health and environment.

Instead of limiting local authority, we should be strengthening transparency and community participation. Policies such as advance notification of pesticide applications, clear communication about spray days and stronger integrated pest management practices can help reduce unnecessary exposure and build trust between institutions and the public.

How can you help? There are two members of Congress who need to hear these concerns: Jim Costa (D–Fresno) and Adam Gray (D–Merced). Both voted in favor of the language that would do away with states’ rights as it relates to pesticide safety.

Community Voices

Community voices must remain at the center of these conversations. That is why the work of environmental justice advocates and advisory bodies is so important. The newly formed Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC) at the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) provides a space for residents, advocates and policymakers to discuss these critical issues and push for solutions that prioritize public health.

The second EJAC meeting will be on April 24 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., where community members will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue about environmental justice concerns affecting our region. The link to the meeting will be available soon at pesticidereform.org/.

SprayDays!

California’s first-in-the-world pesticide notification system, SprayDays, has reached its first year of operation. As part of this first year, the DPR shared a report outlining “changes” made to the system, user metrics, feedback received and outreached conducted. Although change is important, especially if coming from impacted communities, there’s no indication that the exact location of scheduled applications will be added.

In addition to the annual report, the DPR opened a public comment period through May 1. E-mail public comments to spraydays@cdpr.ca.gov or call 559-860-3003.