Which federal law governs the use of pesticides in the United States?

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is the primary federal law that governs the regulation of pesticide use in the United States. Enacted in 1947, FIFRA provides the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the authority to oversee the registration, distribution, sale, and use of pesticides. Under FIFRA, pesticides must be proven to be effective and safe when used according to label instructions before they can be marketed or used. The law is designed to protect human health and the environment by ensuring that pesticides do not pose unacceptable risks.

The other options, while relevant to environmental and public health issues, do not specifically focus on the regulation of pesticides. The Clean Water Act addresses water pollution and the quality of surface waters, the Endangered Species Act is concerned with protecting endangered species and their habitats, and the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act, while related to FIFRA, primarily deals with the fees and processes related to the registration of pesticides rather than the overarching governance of pesticide use itself. Therefore, FIFRA is the correct choice as it is the foundational legislation regulating pesticides in the U.S.