EPA Issues Guidance on Bilingual Pesticide Labeling Requirements

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency published guidance to help pesticide manufacturers meet bilingual labeling requirements under the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022. The agency states the guidance advances safety and access to critical use information for Spanish-speaking workers, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

Act Requirements

The Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022 requires pesticide manufacturers to translate safety and health information on product labels into Spanish. Compliance must be reported in the MyPeST app.

June Instructions for Registrants

In June, EPA directed registrants to check a box in MyPeST next to each product that includes bilingual labeling. Registrants must also check a separate box in the app for products not required to include such labeling because they will not be released for shipment.

Reporting Deadlines

EPA outlined reporting schedules for product types under the act. Labels for restricted-use pesticide products and agricultural-use products with the highest toxicity had a translation deadline of Dec. 29 and must be reported in MyPeST by July 31. Labels for all other pesticide products must be translated by Dec. 29, 2030, and reported in the app by Jan. 28, 2031. EPA asserts the updates improve transparency, according to Safety+Health Magazine.

The guidance applies to six product types referenced in the reporting schedule.