Limitations on Disclosing Pesticide Information

Two laws restrict or prohibit disclosing  information in records maintained by the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP).

• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
• Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

FOIA Exemptions Often Apply to Pesticide Records

Before submitting a request, determine whether you seek information that may be entitled to confidential treatment.

• Agreeing to exclude confidential information from a request speeds processing time.
• Information redacted from records will be indicated and described.

FOIA Exemptions Most Frequently Asserted 

• Exemption 3 – Information Exempted from Release by Another Statute, e.g., FIFRA.

• Exemption 4 – Trade secrets, commercial or financial information, e.g., Confidential Business Information.

• Exemption 5 – Privileged inter- or intra - agency memoranda.
• Exemption 6 – Personal Information
• Exemption 7 – Records compiled for law enforcement purposes.

Confidential Business Information

OPP records contain information that may qualify for confidential treatment under FOIA Exemption 4, and its corollary FIFRA section 10(b).

Information that may be considered confidential,

• Product Inert Ingredients
• Product Ingredient Source
• Manufacturing, Quality Control Processes
• Product Chemistry Registration Data
• Pending Registration Actions
• Sales, Production, Commercial/Financial Information

How We Process Requests for Information that may be Confidential

If you seek access to information that may be entitled to confidential treatment, 

• The EPA will Initially deny the request.
• Provide  you an opportunity to appeal the decision.

If your request is initially denied for business confidentiality,

• The EPA contacts the affected business.
• The business may substantiate the confidentiality claim within 15 working days.
• If  substantiated, an automatic appeal is invoked for a final confidentiality determination by the EPA's General Law Office.
• If the claim is waived, the information is released.
• EPA  provides proprietary pesticide studies or data submitted the FIFRA to requesters who sign the Affirmation of Non-multinational Status.