Pesticides: Limited Testing Finds Few Exported Unregistered Pesticide
Violations on Imported Food (Letter Report, 10/06/93, GAO/RCED-94-1).

Have unregistered pesticides produced in the United States for export
been returning to this country as residues on imported food? Although
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Agriculture Department
(USDA) have done only limited testing, the results GAO reviewed showed
few violations of residue tolerances among unregistered exported
pesticides on foods imported into the United States.  The lack of timely
and complete data on exported unregistered pesticides, however, prevents
USDA from testing imported foods for these pesticides.  FDA's current
sources of information are inadequate to identify new pesticides
promptly. Moreover, the law does not require manufacturers to provide
reference standards and test methods for unregistered pesticides.
Without that information, FDA is unable to do the tests necessary to
spot violations.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  RCED-94-1
     TITLE:  Pesticides: Limited Testing Finds Few Exported Unregistered 
             Pesticide Violations on Imported Food
      DATE:  10/06/93
   SUBJECT:  Pesticides
             Hazardous substances
             Safety standards
             Testing
             Importing
             Exporting
             Health hazards
             Toxic substances
             Food inspection
             Pesticide regulation
IDENTIFIER:  Mexico
             Circle of Poison Prevention Act
             
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