Omnibus Bill Contains Good News for Pet Health

The Animal Health Institute is grateful that Congress has reauthorized the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA 5) by including it in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

PRIA provides necessary resources to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP). The legislation will supplement annual appropriations for OPP with additional funding from industry-paid fees that support pesticide registration, registration review, and other regulatory actions important to promoting product innovation. The much-needed OPP funding, coupled with a variety of process and information technology improvements, will allow OPP to increase staffing and better meet registration and registration review timeframes.  These new resources and efficiencies will give veterinarians and pet owners timely access to the flea and tick products necessary to protect animal health and allow pet owners to live in close proximity with their companions.

First passed in 2004, the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act set up a fee-for-service program for pesticide manufacturers that funds part of EPA’s pesticide registration program. From its inception PRIA has had the support of pesticide manufacturers, environmental NGOs, growers, professional pesticide applicators and members of Congress.