Fruit Bites Aug 18-20 Regulatory

BL: Welcome back to another “Fruit Bites” brought to you by Valent U.S.A. With us again is Valent’s Allison Walston. And this week Allison, let’s talk about the process of getting pesticides registered.

AW: All pesticides, even organic, are regulated through the EPA (environmental protection agency). A company can spend over $330 million dollars on regulatory and development costs including residue work, environmental fate, toxicity to animals and nontarget organisms, formulations, crop safety and efficacy against the targeted pests. Then finally after about 10 years, we can write a label recommendation for use.

BL: that process takes 10 years?

AW: at least sometimes upwards to 15 years on a 17-year patent. Once the data package is submitted to EPA for their review, add another 2-3 years before the pesticide is registered. Very few of the experimental products that I test in my R&D role, even make it to the market. But every so often, a product makes it through all the hurdles and gets registered.

BL: Well, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I’m Bob Larson.