CPDA says MAHA report mischaracterizes pesticide safety and risks food affordability

The Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) criticized the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s initial report for misrepresenting the safety of pesticides used in US agriculture, warning that the findings could undermine critical tools for producing affordable food.

In a statement issued May 23 from Arlington, VA, CPDA acknowledged the commission’s stated commitment to improving children’s health but expressed concern that the report’s claims lack credible scientific support and disregard the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rigorous pesticide regulatory framework.

“We all agree on the need to protect children’s health, but that effort must be led by facts, not fear,” said Terry Kippley, CPDA president and chief executive officer. “The lawful use of pesticides is already held to the highest safety standards in the world. We should be building on science, not sidelining it.”

The MAHA Commission’s initial assessment raised potential links between environmental chemicals—including pesticides—and chronic childhood illnesses such as autism, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. It also recommended increased scrutiny of pesticide residues and federal action to reduce agricultural chemical exposure. However, the report did not reference the EPA’s existing review system, which CPDA described as among the most comprehensive and child-focused globally.

According to CPDA, pesticides undergo a multi-year, data-intensive registration process under federal laws including the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). This process incorporates child-specific exposure assessments and routinely reevaluates safety standards.

CPDA warned that mischaracterizing pesticide safety risks public misunderstanding that could prompt bans, state restrictions, or litigation, potentially disrupting farmers’ access to essential crop protection tools. The group emphasized the economic and food security implications, noting that without pesticides, crop losses would rise, food prices would increase, and access to fresh produce—especially for low-income families—would decline.

The crop protection industry, represented by CPDA, supports millions of American jobs and underpins national food and supply chain security, the group said.

CPDA reaffirmed its willingness to collaborate with government, lawmakers, and the agricultural sector to defend regulatory integrity and ensure continued access to proven crop protection products.

The MAHA Commission has yet to issue its final report.