(a) General. Sections 158.100 through 158.130 describe how to use this table to determine the toxicology data requirements for a particular pesticide product. Notes that apply to an individual test and include specific conditions, qualifications, or exceptions to the designated test are listed in paragraph (d) of this section.

(b) Key. R = Required; CR = Conditionally required; NR = Not required; MP = Manufacturing-use product; EP = End-use product; TEP = Typical end-use product; TGAI = Technical grade of the active ingredient; All = All of the above. Specific conditions, qualifications, or exceptions to the designated test procedures appear in paragraph (d) of this section, and apply to the individual tests in the following table:

(c) Table. The following table shows the data requirements for microbial pesticides toxicology. The test notes are shown in paragraph (d) of this section.

Table—Microbial Pesticides Toxicology Data Requirements

Open Table
Guideline Number Data Requirement All Use Patterns Test Substance Test Notes
Tier I
885.3050 Acute oral toxicity/pathogenicity R TGAI 1
885.3150 Acute pulmonary toxicity/pathogenicity R TGAI
885.3200 Acute injection toxicity/pathogenicity/(intravenous)
Acute injection toxicity/pathogenicity/(intraperitoneal)
R TGAI 2
885.3400 Hypersensitivity incidents R All 3
885.3500 Cell culture R TGAI 4
870.1100 Acute oral toxicity R MP , EP 1, 5
870.1200 Acute dermal toxicity R MP , EP 5
870.1300 Acute inhalation toxicity R MP , EP 5, 6
870.2400 Acute eye irritation R MP , EP 5
870.2500 Primary dermal irritation R MP , EP 5
Tier II
885.3550 Acute toxicology CR TGAI 7
885.3600 Subchronic toxicity/pathogenicity CR TGAI 8
Tier III
885.3650 Reproductive fertility effects CR TGAI 9, 13
870.4200 Carcinogenicity CR TGAI 10, 13
870.7800 Immunotoxicity CR TGAI 11, 13
885.3000 Infectivity/pathogenicity analysis CR TGAI 12, 13

(d) Test notes. The following test notes are applicable to the data requirements for microbial pesticides toxicology as referenced in the last column of the table contained in paragraph (c) of this section:

1. The acute oral toxicity/pathogenicity study is required to support the TGAI. However, it can be combined with the unit dose portion of the acute oral toxicity study, with an EP or MP test material to fulfill the requirement for the TGAI and the MP or EP in a single study, if the new protocol is designed to address the endpoints of concern.

2. Data not required for products whose active ingredient is a virus. For test materials whose size or consistency may prevent use of an intravenous injection, the intraperitoneal injection procedure may be employed.

3. Hypersensitivity incidents, including immediate type and delayed-type reactions of humans or domestic animals, occur during the testing or production of the TGAI, MP, or EP, or are otherwise known to the applicant must be reported if they occur.

4. Data must be submitted only for products whose active ingredient is a virus.

5. The 870 series studies for the MP and EP are intended to provide data on the acute toxicity of the product. Waivers for any or all of these studies may be granted when the applicant can demonstrate that the combination of inert ingredients is not likely to pose any significant human health risks. Where appropriate, the limit dose approach to testing is recommended.

6. Required when the product consists of, or under conditions of use would result in, an inhalable material (e.g., gas, volatile substances, or aerosol particulate).

7. Data required when significant toxicity, in the absence of pathogenicity and significant infectivity, is observed in acute oral, injection, or pulmonary studies (Tier I). Route(s) of exposure correspond to route(s) where toxicity was observed in Tier I studies. The toxic component of the TGAI is to be tested.

8. Data required when significant infectivity and/or unusual persistence is observed in the absence of pathogenicity or toxicity in Tier I studies. Routes of exposure (oral and/or pulmonary) correspond to routes in Tier I studies where adverse effects were noted. Data may also be required to evaluate adverse effects due to microbial contaminants or to toxic byproducts.

9. Data are required when one or more of the following criteria are met:

i. Significant infectivity of the microbial pest control agent (MPCA) was observed in test animals in the Tier II subchronic study and in which no significant signs of toxicity or pathogenicity were observed.

ii. The microbial pesticide is a virus which can persist or replicate in mammalian cell culture lines.

iii. The microbial pesticide is not amenable to thorough taxonomic classification, and is related to organisms known to be parasitic for mammalian cells.

iv. The microbial pesticide preparation is not well purified, and may contain contaminants which are parasitic for mammals.

10. Data may be required for products known to contain or suspected to contain carcinogenic viruses or for microbial components that are identified as having significant toxicity in Tier II testing.

11. Data may be required for products known to contain or suspected to contain viruses that can interact in an adverse manner with components of the mammalian immune system.

12. An analysis of human infectivity/pathogenicity potential using scientific literature, genomic analysis, and/or actual specific cell culture/animal data may be required for products known to contain or suspected of containing intracellular parasites of mammalian cells for products that exhibit pathogenic characteristics in Tier I and/or Tier II, for products which are closely related to known human pathogens based on the product analysis data, or for known human pathogens that have been “disarmed” or rendered non-pathogenic for humans.

13. Test standards may have to be modified depending on the characteristics of the microorganism. Requirements may vary for these studies depending on the active ingredient being tested. Consultation with the Agency is advised before performing these Tier III studies.


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