There are approximately 100 agrochemicals on the restricted use list for the state of Arizona. All agricultural growers using these chemicals must be trained in the proper use and disposal of the chemical, and attend annual continuing education courses to keep their certification.
When an agrochemical is banned or added to the restricted-use list, new regulations are passed on to the grower and the grower must follow these regulations exactly, or find a cost-effective alternative to that chemical. Usually pesticides suspected of being hazardous are phased out over a year or so to allow growers time to change their growing methods. Occasionally, intense media attention to a particular pesticide, such as occurred with Alar in 1989, forces regulatory bodies to respond much faster than they planned.
All of these regulations are intended to keep our food safe from contamination by pesticide residues as well as to protect growers who must come into contact with agrochemicals on a regular basis. An editorial in the June issue of National Gardening Magazine, however, pointed out a serious flaw in our regulating system.
Even though U.S. growers cannot purchase banned agro chemicals, U.S. chemical companies are allowed to manufacture and export these chemicals to foreign growers. These chemicals then are used on foreign food crops. Since 25% of our produce, or 33 billion pounds, is imported from other countries, we may be importing a much more dangerous situation than that which exists in the U.S.
Of course, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the power to prevent the import of pesticide-residue contaminated food. The problem is the FDA inspects only 1 to 2% of imported food products entering the U.S. That means that more than 32 billion pounds reach our supermarkets without being inspected for pesticide residues. In the words of Warren Schultz, editor of National Gardening Magazine, "It's enough to inspire xenoleguphobia - a fear of foreign vegetables".
How can consumers avoid imported residues in our food? First by buying local produce or produce grown in the U.S. and secondly by avoiding out-of season fruits and vegetables (they are probably imported). To affect change on a larger scale, we can write to our Arizona representatives urging them to support the Pesticide Export Reform Act of 1990. The bill would halt production of banned pesticides by U.S. companies, though it wouldn't affect foreign pesticide manufacturers selling within their own countries. All imported food also would come with a list of the pesticides used during its production.
Regulations are inconvenient, sometimes costly, and increase the red tape and paperwork we must wade through every day of our lives. Most consumers agree, however, that regulations protecting the safety of our food is worth the price, as long as it delivers what it promises - high quality, safe produce whether it is grown in our own back yards or somebody else's.