Food Quality Protection Act
The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 forced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to re-haul its entire pesticide regulatory apparatus. FQPA focused on the effect these chemicals have on children, creating the need for a new layer of regulation, based on the assumption that children could only handle one-tenth of the exposure level of an adult. The bill also gave priority to health over economics. Previously the farming industry had managed to escape sanction by arguing that banning a particular pesticide would have too much of a negative impact upon their business. Under the new law this was no longer possible. Lastly, the law required the EPA to expand its regulation: If one pesticide of a particular classification was thought to be dangerous, and other chemicals of that same classification were supposed to operate in the same way, they too could fall under the purview of the regulation crafted for the first pesticide.
Cry Wolf Quotes
We are disappointed that they have chosen to continue to insist there is peril in fruits and vegetables. The risks are remote and hypothetical.
I was more scared than angry or frustrated. I've felt like a lot of this stuff coming down from the EPA isn't really well thought out -- they're off in the clouds.