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Pesticide Registration

Inert Ingredients Regulation

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What Are Inert Ingredients

Most pesticide products contain substances in addition to the active ingredient(s) that are referred to as inert ingredients or sometimes as “other ingredients.” An inert ingredient generally is any substance (or group of similar substances) other than an active ingredient that is intentionally included in a pesticide product.  Examples of inert ingredients include emulsifiers, solvents, carriers, aerosol propellants, fragrances and dyes.

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Pre-Application Meeting

The Agency recommends that a submitter request a presubmission conference call or meeting with the Inert Ingredient Assessment Branch (IIAB) before submitting a petition. This is an informal discussion to determine if the petitioner has enough information to proceed with the petition process. The submitter will need to provide a brief summary of the information they have regarding the chemical, including:

  • use information;
  • limitations;
  • sections of the CFR that apply; and
  • toxicity and environmental fate data.

IIAB will provide guidance on whether or not the data are adequate to make a safety finding regarding the chemical before submitting a formal petition to the Agency. To schedule a meeting, contact IIAB.

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Regulation and Guidance Documents

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