EPA Pledges Beefed Up Scrutiny of Pesticides Imports
EPA is "dramatically expanding" its ability to investigate and enforce measures to prevent what it calls illegal pesticide and chemical smuggling operations at U.S. ports by bad actors such as Chinese manufacturers and criminal cartels, according to a recent news release.
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The agency said it is working with CBP and the ports to bolster enforcement of imports of pesticides and related chemicals. EPA made its announcement following a Dec. 19 visit to the Port of Los Angeles that included Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall, who oversees EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, and Craig Pritzlaff, principal deputy assistant administrator.
The partnership between EPA, CBP and the ports will include further sharing of information critical to inspection, enforcement and coordination, EPA said.
The agency also said that the "stepped-up enforcement has led to the blocking of more than 200,000 pounds of illegal pesticide imports at ports across America this year." EPA didn't respond by press time to a request for the number of pounds of imports blocked in 2024.