In 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) convened a multi-stakeholder advisory group called the Inerts Disclosure Stakeholder Workgroup to advise the agency about ways "to increase the availability to the public of information about inert ingredients." The workgroup is just concluding its work, and has forwarded to EPA three alternative proposals.

One proposal, written by the industry and trade group representatives on the workgroup. is a voluntary proposal. It would allow manufacturers to disclose various kinds of information about inert ingredients if they choose to do so, but would have no requirements for disclosure.

A second proposal, written by representatives from public interest groups (including NCAP) and two state attorneys-general, would require identification of all pesticide ingredients on product labels.

The third proposal, written by the same workgroup members who wrote the second proposal, requires identification of all ingredients on product labels unless the manufacturer can show that the ingredient legitimately deserves protection as confidential business information.

EPA is accepting comments about these three proposals until March 1, 2002. Send your comments to:

In the subject line of your e-mail put the following docket control number:

Here's some important points to include in your comments:

• There is a a crucial need for more information about inert ingredients in pesticides than is currently available. (If you have a personal experience in which you needed inert ingredient information, and are willing to share it, please do. If you work with a business or agency that needs inert ingredient information, explain your needs.)
• Voluntary disclosure proposals are not adequate. They won't change the current situation because pesticide manufacturers already can, and sometimes do, voluntarily disclose information about inert ingredients. EPA needs to increase the public availability of information.