Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology
The Business Council for Agrotechnology

July 24, 2026

CPDA Meets with EPA Registration Division on Process Improvements

CPDA’s EPA Working Group met this week with EPA Registration Division Director Billy Smith and members of the Registration Division team to discuss process improvements, backlog reduction, and opportunities for continued collaboration.

CPDA recognized several positive developments, including measurable improvements in the review of notifications and many non-PRIA amendments, the overall rollout of MyPest, and EPA’s communication with registrants throughout implementation. EPA also shared helpful context on current workload, staffing, and ongoing efforts to improve registration efficiency.

The discussion focused on practical issues affecting CPDA members, including label review consistency, MyPest communications, structured labels, PRIA 6 process improvements, electronic Offers to Pay, current label citations, MyPest account management, InertFinder, the Inert Trade Name Database, and Registration Division resources.



CPDA appreciates EPA’s transparency and continued engagement. The meeting identified several follow-up areas where CPDA and the Registration Division can continue working together to improve consistency, communication, and registration efficiency while maintaining the quality of EPA’s scientific review.

CPDA members and staff met with EPA Registration Division Director Billy Smith and members of the Registration Division team to discuss process improvements, backlog reduction, and registration efficiency.

CPDA Appoints Eric Spandl as Director of Technical Business Development

CPDA is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Spandl as Director of Technical Business Development, a strategic role designed to strengthen CPDA’s technical capability, regulatory connectivity, and industry intelligence.

Spandl brings deep expertise in crop protection, agricultural technology, and regulatory engagement, positioning CPDA to better anticipate emerging technologies, support member priorities, and enhance collaboration with key partners and agencies.



“Eric’s appointment reflects CPDA’s commitment to delivering senior-level technical insight, strengthening our external relationships, and ensuring our members have timely intelligence on the technologies and market forces shaping modern agriculture,” said CPDA President and CEO Terry Kippley.

CPDA Participates in PRIA Coalition Quarterly Stakeholder Meeting

CPDA participated in this week’s PRIA Coalition Quarterly Stakeholder Meeting with EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs, where EPA provided updates on staffing, FY26 goals, digital transformation, PRIA 5 implementation, ESA process improvements, and division-level process improvements.

One of the key takeaways was continued progress reducing the non-PRIA backlog, a priority CPDA has advocated for over several years. According to EPA’s presentation, pending non-PRIA cases have declined from 21,287 at the start of FY22 to 7,060 as of June 23, 2026, representing a reduction of approximately 66 percent.



This progress matters for CPDA members because non-PRIA actions, including notifications and amendments, are critical to keeping products moving through the regulatory process and into the marketplace. While more work remains, the continued decline in pending actions reflects meaningful progress by EPA and sustained advocacy from CPDA and the broader PRIA Coalition.

CPDA Supports Congressional Letter on Timely Pesticide Registration Decisions

CPDA supported a congressional letter led by Representative Austin Scott (R-GA) and signed by 26 additional House members thanking President Trump and his Administration for recent actions approving crop protection technologies and new-use pesticide registrations that had completed EPA scientific review.

The letter emphasizes the importance of timely, science-based EPA decisions so growers have access to modern tools needed to manage weeds, address resistance, protect yields, and remain competitive with producers in other countries. Members also noted that several of these products and uses are already available to farmers in Europe, Canada, Brazil, and other major agricultural markets.

The letter reinforces a key CPDA priority: predictable and transparent pesticide registration decisions are essential to supporting investment in the next generation of crop protection tools and maintaining farmer access to safe, effective technologies.



CPDA appreciates Representative Scott’s leadership and the support of the members who joined the letter. CPDA will continue working with Congress, EPA, and the Administration to support a rigorous, science-based regulatory process that delivers timely decisions and keeps important crop protection tools available to growers.

Coming Up: First Reporting Deadline for Bilingual Pesticide Labels

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released on June 26 instructions and a schedule for reporting compliance with the bilingual labeling requirements under the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022 (PRIA 5). View EPA’s June 26 announcement here. According to EPA’s announcement, the first bilingual labeling reporting deadline is July 31, 2026, and will follow a rolling schedule similar to the rolling statutory compliance schedule that is available here.

As a reminder, back in October 2025 EPA had added a voluntary function in EPA’s MyPeST system to report compliance with the PRIA 5 bilingual labeling requirements. At the time, an EPA webinar featuring Dan Schoeff was recorded detailing how to report compliance in the MyPeST system. The recording is available here.



For instructions, deadlines, and resources, visit EPA’s Bilingual Labeling webpage. Additionally, EPA’s updated MyPeST Application User Guide, which can be found after logging into the system, includes instructions on compliance reporting.

CPDA Participates in Tech Hub LIVE ESA Discussions

CPDA participated in Tech Hub LIVE this week, continuing its engagement on ESA implementation, retail strategy, and practical compliance tools for the field.

CPDA leaders joined the session “ESA in the Field: A Practical Survival Guide for Retailers & Applicators,” which focused on how ESA-driven label changes are affecting product mixing, application, and recordkeeping. Panelists provided practical guidance on interpreting mitigation requirements and helping retailers and applicators stay compliant in the field.

The discussion featured Eric Spandl, CPDA’s Director of Technical Business Development and ESA Mitigation Chair; Austin Anderson of CPDA member Helena Agri-Enterprises and Chair of CPDA’s Adjuvant Certification Program Committee; Adam Barlow of John Deere; and Samantha Murray of Compass Regulatory.

Terry Kippley also moderated an ESA retail strategy discussion featuring Eric Spandl, Dr. Stanley Culpepper of the University of Georgia, and Bill Chism of WSSA. The conversation reinforced the importance of collaboration among retailers, universities, manufacturers, regulators, and industry organizations as ESA requirements continue to shape label language, stewardship practices, and grower support.

CPDA appreciates the opportunity to help lead practical conversations on ESA implementation, including how adjuvants, drift reduction tools, and clear communication can support compliance planning and on-target applications.

Eric Spandl, CPDA; Eric Sfiligoj and Renee Targos, Meister Media; Michael Twining, Willard Agri-Service; Bill Chism, retired EPA; Lorren Walker, EliasWalker; Daren Coppock, ARA; Terry Kippley, CPDA; Amy Asmus, Asmus Farm Supply; Stanley Culpepper, University of Georgia.

CPDA Showcases U.S. Ag Procurement Leadership at AgriBusiness Global Trade Summit

CPDA, The Business Council for Agrotechnology, is proud to support the Agribusiness Global Trade Summit, bringing together more than 800 attendees from 40+ countries and over 130 exhibitors and sponsors to discuss the future of global agriculture. Terry Kippley will moderate a senior executive procurement panel representing companies that account for nearly 50% of the U.S. crop protection distribution market, providing insights into sourcing strategies, supply chain trends, and the outlook for 2026 and beyond.

The Active Ingredient Series

CPDA is launching The Active Ingredient, a new video series featuring industry perspectives from CPDA members and partners on the issues shaping agriculture, crop protection, and product development.

The latest installment features Neil Burns discussing the surfactant industry and how global supply chain disruption, increased competition, and regulatory pressure are reshaping the marketplace. Burns highlights the importance of collaboration across the full supply chain to deliver value, strengthen customer trust, and support continued progress across the industry.

Register Today for CPDA's 2026 Annual Meeting

The future of crop protection will be shaped by the investment decisions made today, the partnerships built tomorrow, and the policies that enable innovation.



Join the executives, policymakers, technical experts, and industry leaders who are driving those decisions at the CPDA 2026 Annual Meeting. Co-located with CropLife America (CLA) and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), this unique event brings together more than 900 agriculture industry leaders from every link in the crop protection value chain—from global manufacturers and suppliers to formulators, distributors and growers.

Upcoming Industry Events

Until next time….