By Andi Anderson
A coalition of leading Michigan agricultural organizations is calling on Congress to pass the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act.
This legislation would reaffirm the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) role as the sole authority on pesticide labeling and prevent individual states from enforcing additional or inconsistent requirements.
The coalition’s letter highlights growing concerns over state actions that contradict long-standing federal policy. These state-level measures create confusion and threaten the availability of essential crop protection tools.
Farmers, land managers, and public health professionals rely on EPA-approved pesticides to control pests, protect yields, and support conservation practices.
According to the coalition, uncertainty about pesticide labeling could severely disrupt commerce, threaten farm income, and contribute to rising food prices for families already facing inflation.
The letter stresses that inconsistent labeling rules also risk undermining public trust in the EPA’s science-based decision-making process.
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) currently assigns EPA the authority to approve pesticide labels. While states are permitted to regulate the sale and use of these products within their jurisdictions, they are preempted from imposing additional labeling requirements.
Despite this, some states have recently acted in ways that challenge EPA’s authority and create conflicting guidance.
The Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act would clarify this issue by reaffirming EPA’s exclusive role in pesticide labeling, while preserving state authority to regulate usage under FIFRA’s existing provisions.
Supporters argue this legislative clarity is necessary to maintain the availability of safe, effective crop protection tools and protect the integrity of U.S. food production.
Michigan organizations signing the letter include the Michigan Agri-Business Association, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Corn Growers Association, Michigan Soybean Association, and others.
The coalition warns that failure to act could harm agriculture, public health, conservation progress, and the economy. They urge Congress to pass the bill and preserve science-based pesticide regulation.
Photo Credit: istock-fotokostic
Categories: Michigan, Crops