In response to requests from farmers and their workers regarding proposed revisions to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS), the agency is extending the comment period an additional 60 days.
Farmers should take this opportunity to express their concerns or comments to the EPA before the comment period ends on Aug. 18, 2014.
WPS governs handling and application of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. The proposed rule would make extensive changes to the standard, including enhanced training obligations, recordkeeping, changes to the family farm exemption and would legally bar children under 16 from handling all pesticides.
According to the EPA news release, the current agricultural WPS is 20 years old and needs revising. The EPA would like to hear from those farmers, growers or farm workers who apply pesticides to protect their crops.
To find out more or to leave a comment, go to http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/workers/proposed/index.html.