CA HR23

Over 160 million pounds of pesticides are used annually in California, with pesticides detected in over half of sampled streams, over 20 percent of tested wells, and over one-third of ambient air samples

Inert ingredients in pesticides, despite their name, may be toxic and biologically active, comprising up to 90 percent of home use products and over 50 percent of agricultural products, but are not required to be identified on product labels

The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that approximately 50 percent of substances used as inert ingredients pose at least moderate risk, yet pesticide safety evaluations typically do not include testing of inert ingredients

Assembly urges the Governor to request the United States Environmental Protection Agency require disclosure of inert ingredient identity on pesticide product labels and identify hazardous inert ingredients expeditiously

Assembly urges the Governor's continued support of the public's right to know every ingredient in pesticide products