Products that control “pests”, such as bacteria or cysts, are regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). FIFRA is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs.
It is important that Water Quality Association (WQA) members understand that certification to NSF/ANSI standards does not exempt water treatment products from FIFRA obligations.
WQA Advocacy & Support
The 2016 WQA FIFRA Taskforce developed a FIFRA guidance document to provide an overview of the regulatory obligations associated with these types of water treatment products and technologies to assist members in meeting their compliance objectives. Click here to access the guide.
To protect consumers, increase safety, and remove regulatory burdens, WQA launched another task force to review the issue. The task force recommendations are an alternate compliance pathway under FIFRA for drinking water filtration systems if they meet national standards as demonstrated through third-party testing and certification for the microbial claims being made.
This alternate compliance pathway is similarly used to protect water quality in plumbing components in model plumbing codes, as well as in EPA’s enforcement of water-related products (e.g., the WaterSense program and rule on lead-free plumbing components). Making this change to FIFRA registration requirements for water filtration systems would remove an unnecessary burden on manufacturers, importers, and the EPA.
This proposal for compliance has been shared with the EPA and Congress. WQA and our partners are continuing to advocate for modernization of the regulation.