National Pork Producers Council and EPA Meeting

December 19, 2007 / 8:30 to 9:30 am

South Potomac Yard, 9th Floor

Attendees

Michael Formica, National Pork Producers Council

Steven Bradbury, EPA/Director, Special Review and Reregistration
Division

Laura Parsons, EPA/Special Review and Reregistration Division

Kelly Sherman, EPA/Special Review and Reregistration Division

Susan Lewis, EPA/Special Review and Reregistration Division

Jennifer Howenstine, EPA/Special Review and Reregistration Division

Summary of Meeting

	This meeting was requested by National Pork Producers Council to
discuss the rodenticide mitigation proposal and its impact on rodent
baiting practices in pork production settings. Michael Formica, the
National Pork Producers Council representative, communicated concerns
about the potential burden on producers associated with the proposed
requirement for restricted use classification of the second generation
anticoagulant rodenticides.  If restricted use classification is
imposed, those rodenticides would only be available for sale to and use
by certified applicators.  

The possible burdens of restricted use designation discussed by Mr.
Formica include: (1) the time and cost associated with obtaining a
certified applicator’s license, and (2) the potential for biosecurity
to be compromised if pork producers are forced to hire commercial
applicators.

In response to the concerns expressed by Mr. Formica, SRRD emphasized
that it recognizes the importance of the second generation
anticoagulants to the livestock industry, including pork producers, SRRD
clarified that its objectives are (1) to decrease risks while still
allowing for effective rodent control and, (2) to allow adequate time
for the regulated industry to comply with any required mitigation.  EPA
also provided information about state requirements for obtaining private
applicator certification, and possible state options to decrease the
burden of regulation.

