In the late 1930’s development of synthetic organic pesticides ushered in a new era of pesticide use and the public’s perception of pesticides was generally positive. Government regulation of pesticides was limited to ensuring that pesticide labels contained a list of ingredients. The experience of the organochloride insecticide, DDT, during the 1940’s and until the EPA banned its use in 1973, changed both public and government perception of pesticides.

DDT was first used as a very effective insecticide against several human disease insect vectors during World War II. Afterwards DDT was embraced by agriculture and used successfully in control of insect pests, such as Colorado potato beetle, corn earworm, cotton bollworm, and the tobacco budworm. DDT was also used to control forests pests, such as gypsy moth and spruce budworm. During its heyday DDT was seen as a silver bullet against insect pests, which resulted in other insect management tactics (i.e. non-chemical tactics) being generally abandoned. However, the consequences of this approach and the deleterious ecological and health effects of DDT were not foreseen.

One very serious problem with DDT is that it is a very persistent molecule, and, therefore, its residue and toxic effects remain and are not broken down in the environment. When ingested, DDT is stored in an animal’s fatty tissue and, as more DDT is ingested through plant or animal tissue, DDT accumulates. Additionally, DDT’s toxicity is not targeted to certain insect pests, but is broadly toxic to many species, including species of animals. These characteristics of DDT resulted in loss of wildlife, especially predator birds, such as the bald eagle. As the negative effects of DDT became known, public and government concern grew until the product was banned from use by the EPA in 1973.

The experience with DDT changed public perception of pesticides and initiated government regulation of pesticides. It also became clear that basic scientific research on pesticides and their safety are necessary prior to product introduction into the market. Additionally, researchers began to develop and foster the concept of IPM.

Federal Pesticide Regulation--A Timeline--based on: Whitford, F., ed. 2002. The Complete Book of Pesticide Management: Science, Regulation, Stewardship, and Communication, vol. XXIV. 787 pp. J. Wiley, New York.

1910	Insecticide Act	Mandates that pesticide products have a label with the ingredients listed.
1947	Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)	Product registration with USDA
1954	Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)	Standards for legal limit of pesticide residue (tolerance) that can remain on harvested crop intended for consumption.
1958	Delaney Clause	Amendment to FFDCA. Pesticides that become concentrated during food processing (e.g. in tomato paste from residue on tomato) are now determined to be 'additives'. No additive is allowed that could cause cancer in vertebrates.
1962	Public concern--health and environment	Publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring generated public concern over the use of DDT and other chlorinated hydrocarbons.
1970	Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established	Regulatioin of pesticides became the EPA's responsibility, rather than the USDA's.
1972	FIFRA amended	The product label must be followed under penalty of law. Manufacturers must prove that their product does not result in "unreasonable" deleterious effects on human health and the environment. Designated pesticides as low risk or high risk. High risk pesticides can only be used by certified pesticide applicator or workers under their direct supervision. Risk/benefit analysis of pesticide for registration purposes.
1980's	Good laboratory practices and comprehensive risk assessment	Good laboratory practices required for all pesticide testing facilities to prevent faulty or fraudulent data. Auditing of testing labs by the EPA. Toxicity risks plus exposure risks evaluated for registration purposes.
1996	Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)	Outlined a single tolerance standard for both processed and non-processed foods. Food residue tolerances must be "safe"--"a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure to the pesticide chemical residue including ...all exposures for which there is reliable information". New approach to risk assessment; consider 1) the total exposure from all sources 2) consider additive risks from chemicals with similar toxicity mechanisms 3) more safe-guards for risks to infants and children 4) focus on risk, rather than benefits of pesticide during registration. All currently registered products must be assessed for risk, based on a timeline developed by the EPA.
1997	Reduced risk pesticides	Priority and fast track registration for low risk pesticides (i.e. lower chance of causing deleterious health and environmental effects relative to those pesticides currently registered). 1 to 2 years for the registration process for low risk pesticides, compared to 4 to 6 years for high risk pesticides.

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E. Bush, last updated 12/19/05

Virginia Cooperative Extension - Virginia Agriculture & Experiment Station