407 



raising of the water level in reservoirs by 6 inches durinor mosquito- 

 breeding season, to drown the larvae; (2) spreading of milky spore as 

 a means of controlling Japanese beetles; (3) eradication of the screw 

 worm fly by releasing large numbers of infertile males. 



Of research in the direction of specific, biological controls, the 

 PS AC 1963 Panel on Pesticides recommended that "* * * this trend 

 should be continued and strengthened." ' 



Federal regulation of agricultural pesticides 



Emphasis on cost/effectiveness in agriculture extended naturally to 

 the criteria for pesticides used by the farmer. IVIanagers of large farms 

 sought to find pesticides that would accomplish effectively the desired 

 purposes of keeping pests down, but cheaply enough to keep their 

 costs competitive. Cost/effectiveness in pesticides suggested such 

 criteria as — 



Low in acquisition cost, in terms of potency or killing power 

 per unit of cost of material ; 



Low in application cost, in terms of compatibility with large- 

 volume methods of dissemination in the target area ; 



Sustained effectiveness, in terms of chemical stability (reten- 

 tion of killing power) , resistance to being dissolved away by rain 

 water, and continued service of a single application for the entire 

 growing season or even longer ; 



Low in implied costs resulting from undesired side effects, such 

 as hazard to farmworkers and farm animals, absence of hazard- 

 ous toxic residues on agricultural products, etc. 

 It was in the context of these criteria that the Insecticide Act of 

 1910 was passed. This act* prohibited manufacture, sale, or interstate 

 commerce in adulterated or misbranded Paris greens, lead arsenates, 

 and other insecticides, and also fungicides, to maintain the quality of 

 commercial poisons in agricultural use. 



The 1010 act was repealed by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, 

 and Rodenticide Act ^ which substituted for it a considerable number 

 of Federal controls over commercial pesticides. It provided for — 



Registration of economic poisons before their introduction into 

 commerce : 



Appropriate labeling of poisons on the container, including in- 

 structions for safe use ; 



3F.S. Prpsirlpnt's Science Advisory Committee. Use of Pesticides: A report of the 

 President's Science Advisory Committee. The White House. May 15, 1963. Exhibit 4 of 

 pt. I, p. ^1 of: TT.S. Consrress. Sennte. Committee on Government Operations. Interasency 

 Coordination in Environmental Haz.nrds (Pesticides). Hearinfrs before the Subcommittee 

 on Reorganization and International Organizations of the * * * Agency coordination study 

 (pursuant to S. Res. 27. SSth Cong., as amended). Coordination of Activities Relating 

 to the U«e of Pesticides. S.'^th Consr. 1st sess. (Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, 

 19R4). Eleven parts. Part I : (Including exhibits). May 16, 22, 2.S : June 4, 2.5, 196.3 : App. 

 I to pt. I Phasic documents submitted by the Department of Agriculture relating to the 

 use of pesticides) : app. II to pt. I (current research program in the areas of pesticides 

 (Agricultural Research Service)); app. Ill to pt. I (selected departmental activities 

 relatinff to the use of pesticides) ; app. IV to pt. I (information circulars of the World 

 Health'Organization and miscellaneous articles) : app. V to pt. I (status report on Federal 

 agencies" activities implementing recommendations of the President's Science Advisory 

 Committee renort on the use of pesticides) : pt. 2 : (including exhibits). .Inly 17. 1963: 

 pt. 3: (including exhibits), Julv 18 and 23, 1963: pt. 4: (including exhibits). Aug. 20 

 and 21, 1963: pt. o: (including exhibits). Oct. 7. 1963: pt. 6: (including exhibits). 

 Oct. S, 1963: pt. 7: (including exhibits). Oct. 9. 1963; pt. 8 (including exhibits), Feb. 18, 

 1964: Pt 9: (includinsr exhibits). Apr. 7. 8. and 15, 1964; pt. 10: (includine exhibits), 

 Apr. 16. 21. and 22, 1964; and pt. 11; (including exhibits), Apr. 30, June 29, July 28 

 and 29. 1964. 



< Public Law 152. 61st Cong., 26 Stat. 331. approved Apr. 26. 1910. 



B Public Law 104, SOth Cong,, 61 Stat, 163. approved June 25, 1947. 



