Texas Pesticide Applicator Practice Exam

What is the acronym for the federal agency that regulates pesticides?

1. FDA

2. USDA

3. EPA

4. FIFRA

The correct answer is: EPA

The federal agency that regulates pesticides is represented by the acronym EPA, which stands for the Environmental Protection Agency. This agency is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws that protect human health and the environment, including the regulation of pesticide usage, distribution, and safety. The EPA evaluates the safety and effectiveness of pesticides before they can be marketed to ensure they do not pose unreasonable risks to people or the environment. In contrast, the FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, primarily oversees the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics rather than pesticides specifically. The USDA, or United States Department of Agriculture, focuses on agricultural policy, food safety, and food distribution. FIFRA stands for the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, which is a law under the purview of the EPA that governs the registration, distribution, and use of pesticides, but it is not the agency itself. Therefore, the EPA is the correct answer as it is the central regulatory body for pesticides in the United States.