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All pesticides must pass through a rigorous evaluation process from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to gain approval for sale and use.
In California, the Department of Pesticide regulation also performs a state specific evaluation of pesticides prior to their sale and use. Unfortunately, this subsequent state evaluation process takes additional time which impacts when new management tools become available to growers.
Last fall, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation launched a new app called CalPEST (California Pesticide Electronic Submission Tracking). DPR’s intent was to speed up the timeline for evaluation and registration of products.
Changes Implemented in New CalPEST System
According to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s September press release, the goal of the CalPEST system is to transition from a paper based to electronic record keeping system. This may help accelerate registration actions and allow for easier commercialization of novel pest management solutions.
One way CalPEST claims it will accomplish these changes is by allowing various scientific groups to work concurrently to peer review data submitted with applications. Agricultural products moving through registration are examined by these groups on a range of factors including their chemistry, environmental impact, and worker health and safety hazards.
"The launch of CalPEST is a historic milestone for DPR in our work to modernize and streamline our registration process and increase transparency into how we evaluate and register pesticides before they can be used or sold in California," said DPR Director Julie Henderson, adding that the system reflects the department's core values of accountability and continuous improvement.
Suterra’s Dedicated Regulatory Efforts
As the pioneers of mating disruption technology, Suterra has a dedicated regulatory team to manage and expedite the registration process of our products. Internationally, we have moved hundreds of safe and effective new pest management solutions through registration in the past decade.
We understand the need for innovative products in the marketplace and want to ensure that growers have access to the best tools for pest management in a timely manner. We are optimistic that this is the first step of many necessary to improve California’s lengthy registration process.
Connect with a representative to learn more about Suterra’s regulatory efforts.
For more information on CalPEST and the DPRs management of pesticide regulation, click here.