Editors' Summary: Since 1910, the federal government has played a role in regulating pesticides. At first, the motive was to fight fraud, but as pesticides became more sophisticated and as environmental concerns grew, the government's regulatory efforts became more comprehensive. Now, near the dawn of bioengineered pesticides, with society confronting and reevaluating environmental risks, and with agencies facing fiscal challenges, pesticide regulation continues to evolve. It is a field of concern to the pesticide industry, of course, but in U.S. society, pesticides have a marked impact on almost everyone's food supplies, water, housing, and health.

This Article is the first of a three-part series explaining pesticide regulation. This installment gives a capsule history and overview of FIFRA, followed by discussions of federal jurisdiction over pesticides, labeling and packaging requirements, and the overarching requirement of pesticide registration. Future installments will examine end-user requirements, food tolerance regulations, state authority, emerging biotechnology regulation, and other issues.