Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)

The act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 3, 1996. Since there was to be no phase-in period, the EPA was forced to begin quickly the process of writing and issuing interpretative policies and rules.

FQPA amended the food safety laws to establish a single, health-based safety standard for all pesticide residues in food. Under FQPA, EPA must specifically determine that each newly established tolerance is safe for infants and children.

FQPA amends the two most important laws regulating pesticides in the United States: the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which sets guidelines for pesticide use, registration, classification, an applicator certification; and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), which regulates the setting of tolerances for pesticides used on food crops.

The Food Quality Protection Act puts the safety of the children first. First, it sets clear, consistent standards for all pesticide use on all foods for all health risks. It also sets that standard high for all pesticide use on all food for all health risks. The act also reformed the regulatory process for pesticides. Safer substitutes would be approved faster.
Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)