The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) on June 30 released an update on its ongoing work to evaluate or mitigate registered pesticides to protect people and the environment, a process known as continuous evaluation.
Registration is required for all pesticides used or sold in California and involves rigorous review of scientific studies to identify potential harmful effects and any required measures to mitigate those risks. Mitigation measures can include restrictions on how a product is applied, how much of a product can be used, or required distances from homes and schools.
Once registered, DPR continuously evaluates pesticides. The recent update outlines the status of the evaluations currently in progress and targeted completion dates for adopting mitigation actions.
DPR’s continuous evaluation process includes reviewing emerging data and information, tracking pesticide illnesses, ecosystem monitoring, reviewing pesticide use data, collecting and testing the air in four high pesticide use areas for 40 pesticides and their degradants, collecting and testing produce for 500 pesticides and sampling and testing groundwater for 100 pesticides, conducting surface water monitoring for 75 pesticides in urban and agricultural areas and initiating specific studies. This information informs regulatory changes, label changes, and other mitigation measures and actions.
“We have heard from the public a desire to see more-regular updates and progress on the department’s work to continuously evaluate pesticides and to mitigate pesticide risks and impacts,” said DPR Director Karen Morrison. “This update reflects our core value of accountability and transparency, and we look forward to continuing to provide more regular updates on our work and its impact on all Californians.”
To inform future prioritization of its work, DPR is initiating a Priority Pesticide Process to engage with a scientific advisory committee in a public and accountable way on future, potential pesticides or pesticide uses for prioritization and action plans.
DPR’s Continuous Evaluation and Mitigation Update includes actions and completion dates between 2025 and 2029 for the following pesticide active ingredients: Carbaryl; Chloropicrin; Cyfluthrin; 1, 3-Dichloropropene; Diphacinone; Non-agricultural use neonicotinoids; Fipronil; Linuron; Paraquat dichloride; Phosphine; Propanil; Propargite; Second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs); Simazine; Sulfuryl fluoride; Tribufos.
The update also includes regulatory actions related to eyewash and groundwater protections.
AB 2113, which was signed into law in 2024, requires DPR to post an update on its continuous evaluation annually.
See DPR’s website for additional resources on the following topics:
Continuous evaluation: An overview of how DPR can identify and address risks.
How pesticides are evaluated: Information on how pesticides are evaluated before and after they are registered in California.
Look Up Pesticide Info: Information on specific pesticides (organized by active ingredient, which is the chemical that makes a pesticide work).
