Emergency Request for New Pesticide Registration Involving GE Male Screwworm

This document announces the receipt of an application from the USDA aimed at registering a new pesticide containing an unregistered product known as NovoFly, which involves genetically engineered male New World screwworms. This application is specifically for use in the USDA's Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) programs designed to control the screwworm population. Additionally, it includes a Section 18 quarantine emergency exemption request aimed at using the same pesticide to help prevent the spread of this pest from Mexico into the USA. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing this notice under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Due to the urgent nature of the situation, the Agency is waiving the public comment period for the emergency exemption request but is seeking comments on the application for the product registration of NovoFly. The primary focus of this document is to address the significant threat posed by the New World screwworm, a pest known for causing severe damage to livestock. The request for an emergency exemption is a crucial step in controlling the pest's movement further north, particularly as it threatens agricultural integrity and livestock health in the U.S. As the application is marked by urgency, the EPA is facilitating a rapid review process to manage the situation effectively. The affected groups include agricultural producers, particularly those involved in livestock, as this pest significantly threatens their operations and profits. Furthermore, stakeholders in pest management and regulatory compliance may also be directly impacted by this decision. The document outlines key requirements for both the emergency exemption and the product registration processes, emphasizing the need for rapid action given the pest's potential to wreak havoc across agricultural lands. Next steps involve the EPA continuing the review process for the Section 3 product registration application while simultaneously soliciting public comments specifically on this new product. Those interested in contributing comments regarding NovoFly must engage promptly, although no details on a strict deadline are provided due to the exempt status of the emergency request. The context of this action also suggests that subsequent related regulations may emerge depending on the outcomes of this application and the pest's management success.

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