Lists of Pests of Significant Public Health Importance – Revised 2023

by the United States Environmental Protection Agency

February 23, 2023

Pesticide Registration Notice (PR Notice) 2023-01

NOTICE TO MANUFACTURERS, FORMULATORS, PRODUCERS, REGISTRANTS AND APPLICATORS OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS

ATTENTION:
Persons Responsible for Public Health Programs and Those Responsible for Registration of Pesticide Products

SUBJECT:
Lists of Pests of Significant Public Health Importance – Revised 2023

This notice updates and replaces PR Notice 2002-1, which identifies pests of significant public health importance. Section 28(d) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in coordination with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to identify pests of significant public health importance and to develop and implement programs to improve and facilitate the safe and necessary use of chemical, biological and other methods to combat and control such pests of public health importance.

The lists were first published in 2002, fulfilling the requirement of FIFRA section to identify pests of significant public health importance. EPA, HHS and USDA believe that pests, diseases, and control techniques have changed since 2002. The lists provide an interagency baseline for the federal government and the public to begin any discussions on government regulation and control of disease or vectors of disease agents. EPA makes this information available, in part, to establish a platform for stakeholders, such as public health departments or pesticide registrants to prioritize their workloads and resource allocations. The Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA, coordinated the review by experts in public health and/or pesticide use patterns to compile these lists. No person is required to take any action in response to this notice.

The publication of these lists do not affect the regulatory status of any pesticide registration, pesticide registration exemption under FIFRA section 25(b), pesticide device, or application for registration of any pesticide product or device. These lists do not, by itself, determine whether a pesticide product might be considered a “public health pesticide” as that term is used in FIFRA. That term is defined in FIFRA section 2(nn); determining whether any specific pesticide is a public health pesticide is beyond the scope of this PR Notice.

The Agency has determined that the lists of pests of significant public health importance required under FIFRA section 28(d) can be established independently of the definition of “public health pesticide” in section 2(nn). EPA is interpreting the term “significant public health importance” broadly, to include pests that pose a widely recognized risk to considerable numbers of people.

I. BACKGROUND

FIFRA section 28(d) charges EPA with identifying “pests of significant public health importance.” FIFRA section 2(t) defines the term “pest” as meaning:

(1) any insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed, or (2) any other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life or virus, bacteria, or other micro-organism (except viruses, bacteria, or other micro-organism on or in living man or other living animals) which the Administrator declares to be a pest under section 25(c)(1).

Pursuant to the authorization in the second part of this definition, EPA has broadly declared that the term pest includes all members of each of the categories of organisms identified in FIFRA section 2(t) in circumstances where they are deleterious to man or the environment, except for the organisms specifically excluded by the definition (See 40 CFR 152.5).

II. THE LISTS

EPA has determined that the pests identified in the Appendix are pests of significant public health importance as that term is used in FIFRA section 28(d). Although these lists are derived in large part from review of the pesticide/pest combinations for which efficacy (product performance) data are generally required to be submitted and reviewed prior to registration; in no way should this be interpreted to mean that EPA has or would base any regulatory action solely on these lists. EPA is publishing these lists separate from any statutory or regulatory conclusions which may be associated with public health pesticides. Additionally, these lists do not account for unanticipated nomenclature changes and/or novel pests. A brief description of the pests and their potential impact on the public’s health each is provided below:

Arthropods. The listed arthropods may cause asthma or trigger allergies, contaminate food, irritate skin, cause direct injury, or carry agents causing diseases such as Lyme disease, epidemic typhus, trench fever, epidemic relapsing fever, malaria, encephalitis (St. Louis, Eastern, Western, West Nile and LaCrosse), yellow fever, dengue fever and many others.

Vertebrates. The listed organisms have the potential for direct human injury and can act as disease reservoirs for rabies and other diseases. The rats and mice include those that spread rodent-borne diseases and contaminate food for human consumption.

Microorganisms and acellular particles. This category includes listed bacteria, fungi, protozoans, viruses, virusoids, and prions. The microorganisms and acellular particles listed in this category cause diseases such as COVID-19, cholera, meningitis, Legionnaire’s Disease and many others.

As with the original 2002 lists (PR Notice 2002-1)^[1], these lists identify the pests that EPA, HHS and USDA currently consider to be of significant public health importance. As deemed necessary, the Agency will update the lists of pests of significant public health importance. Also, EPA notes that the listings in the “Public Health Importance/Possible Clinical Significance” column are not exhaustive and can vary in their presence and severity (up to and including death) based on a variety of situation specific factors.

Interested parties are invited to petition the Agency regarding the amendment of these lists. This petition should include the common use name and scientific name of the pest, and a rationale regarding the public health threat posed by this pest. These petitions can be sent to the contact under Part V. For Additional Information.

III. USE OF THE LISTS OF PESTS OF SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE BY THE AGENCY

The Agency will use the lists of pests of significant public health importance to:

1. Fulfill the requirements set forth in FIFRA section 28(d)
2. Together with other federal agencies, develop and implement programs to improve and facilitate the safe and necessary use of chemical, biological and other methods to control pests of public health importance
3. To identify pests that might warrant additional scrutiny and analyses of benefits before changing, restricting or eliminating a use to control a pest of public health significance

IV. WHAT REGISTRANTS SHOULD DO

Registrants do not need to do anything in response to this notice.

V. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you have questions regarding this PR Notice, please contact one of the following individuals:

Name: Susan Jennings
phone: (706) 355-8574
e-mail: jennings.susan@epa.gov

You may also mail a written inquiry to EPA using the following address:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pesticide Programs (Mailcode 7505M)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460

VI. Signature

This PR Notice is digitally signed today, February 23, 2023.

MICHAEL GOODIS

Digitally signed by MICHAEL GOODIS Date: 2023.02.23 14:25:50 -05'00'

Michael Goodis,
Acting Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.

Appendix

Appendix to PR Notice 2023-01 (02/23/2023)

Arthropod Pests .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .		2
Vertebrate Pests .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .		7
Microorganisms .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .     .		11

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1. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-04/documents/pr2002-1.pdf