Language in Title 10, Subtitle C of the Farm Bill threatens the basic rights of a farmer or consumer to sue multinational, multibillion dollar chemical companies for failure to warn about the adverse effects of a pesticide. Further, it preempts state and local governments from better protecting their constituents and deregulates existing state and federal statutory protections.

 

Section 10205 of the Farm Bill would create federal preemption for pesticide labeling, shielding chemical companies from liability if they fail to warn about the adverse effects of their pesticides.  

 

Section 10206 would reverse a 1991 US Supreme Court decision and prohibit local and state governments from allowing more stringent pesticide regulations than federal standards. This provision usurps states’ rights to pass their own laws to better protect their constituencies.

 

Section 10207 is broadly worded to exempt EPA-registered pesticides from other established statutory permitting and approval requirements that safeguard waterways, federal lands, endangered species, and biodiversity from pesticide harm.

 

Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors, Inc. calls on Representative Zach Nunn and Representative Randy Feenstra to strip Sections 10205, 10206, and 10207 deregulating pesticides from Title 10 Subtitle C during the markup of the Farm Bill in the US House Agriculture Committee.

 

This language is harmful and far reaching, impacting 57,000 chemicals registered with the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Representatives Nunn and Feenstra have a duty to protect Iowa citizens and over the financial interests of the multibillion, multinational chemical companies.