Which agency administers and regulates the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)?

• A. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• B. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• C. Food and Drug Administration
• D. U.S. Department of Agriculture

Answer: (A)

PIFRA’s regulatory authority rests with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Pesticides must be registered with EPA before they can be sold or distributed, and the agency evaluates safety and effectiveness to ensure that use, when described on the label, does not pose unreasonable risks to people or the environment. EPA also requires precise labeling with approved directions, safety precautions, and usage limitations, and it can suspend, cancel, or amend registrations if risks are not adequately controlled or if misuses occur. This framework centers on how pesticides are brought to market, how they’re used, and how compliance is enforced.

While other agencies play important public health roles, they do not regulate FIFRA registrations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention focuses on disease prevention and public health surveillance, the Food and Drug Administration handles foods, drugs, and cosmetics, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture works on agricultural programs.