Sector

Crop Protection

Since 1988, we have provided regulatory and environmental strategy support for crop protection products from bench to market and through end-user support. Regulatory requirements differ across the globe and are ever-changing. CSI is positioned to assist with global regulatory and scientific needs.

In the US and Europe, we provide agrochemical firms with regulatory and scientific services to comply with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the EU Plant Protection Products Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. Additionally, we assist companies with fulfilling US State pesticide registration and European Economic Area (EEA) Member State and UK requirements. We support clients with global registration requirements, and have provided successful regulatory support in Canada, Latin America, South America, Asia, and Africa.

CSI develops environmental strategies to address ecological inquiries that arise during the pesticide development and registration process. We apply our extensive knowledge in agriculture, the regulatory arena, risk assessment, at-risk species, conservation measures, economics, and spatial analysis to provide comprehensive crop protection product support for our clients. CSI integrates a variety of data to provide a comprehensive picture of issues affecting product registration and works to find reasonable solutions.

Experienced Support For:

  • Regulatory Strategy
  • Dossier Preparation & Submission
  • Regulatory Agency Liaison
  • Human Health & Environmental Risk Assessment
  • Endangered Species Analysis & Strategy
  • Endocrine Disruptor Data Review
  • Task Force Representation & Administration
  • Applied Economic Analysis
  • Spatial Analysis & Data Systems
  • Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP)

Crop Protection Support in North America

EPA Regulatory Support

  • Regulatory strategies for FIFRA-regulated pesticide active substances (ingredients), biopesticides, microbial and antimicrobial products
  • Agency liaison and negotiation, EPA registration, and registration review package preparation and submission, including electronic submission through EPA’s online portals 
  • Identification of required studies to support registration intent and data gap analysis
  • Placement and monitoring of tests at Contract Research Organizations (CRO), review and interpretation of study results, and verification of compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards
  • Preparation of data waivers and DERs

State Registration Management

  • First-time registration and registration renewal support in all 50 states, California, District of Columbia, and US territories
  • State and California submission packages (applications, labels, safety data sheets, technical data, reports, authorization letters, and efficacy reports)

Environmental Fate & Ecotoxicology Data Review

  • Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP)
  • Soil, water, sediment, and air DT50 values
  • Adsorption/desorption and leaching potential
  • Non-target organism toxicity endpoints and no observed effect concentrations (NOECs)

Applied Economics Support

  • Extensive experience in production agriculture, economics, and conservation
  • Pesticide use characterization and historical usage information
  • Provide public comments on proposed registration decisions, developed use profiles, and other topics related to agriculture and pesticide uses
  • Conduct economic impact analysis and develop benefit assessments

Endangered Species Analysis & Strategy

  • Conduct assessments for species listed under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA) to determine potential effects from use of pesticides and product-relevant mitigation measures
  • Use best available data to develop informed and defensible recommendations
  • Combine economics, species status, conservation, and industry knowledge to assist clients in identifying solutions that are reasonable for the registrant and end-users and also protective of species
  • Build and maintain collaborative relationships with multiple organization-levels within the USEPA, US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), state and regional-level agencies, and other entities

Spatial Analysis & Data Systems

  • Compile, manage, and analyze spatial data to assess overlap of product use with listed species ranges and other areas of concern using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), databases, and custom programming
  • Organize layers of information into illustrations to facilitate communication
  • Assess data for explanatory patterns and relationships

Task Force Representation & Administration

  • Client representation on industry trade association consortia
  • Serve in management, administrative, and lead technical roles on chemical task forces, including the FIFRA Endangered Species Task Force (FESTF)

Litigation Support

  • Data compensation evaluations
  • Intellectual property assessment
  • Scientific case preparation
  • Expert witness testimony

Crop Protection Support in Europe (EEA)

The Plant Protection Products Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 applies to the European Economic Area (EEA) – the 27 EU Member States, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway – and imposes significant obligations on companies placing plant protection products on the EEA market.

Registration Dossier Preparation & Submission

  • Preparation and submission of active substance dossiers for EEA registrations including synthetic pesticides, biopesticides, and microbial products for compliance with Plant Protection Product legislation
  • Preparation and submission of product dossiers for EEA Member States (including zonal and mutual recognition), and Article 53 Emergency Authorisations
  • Liaison with European regulatory agencies including European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and the European Commission, in addition to EEA Member State national regulatory authorities
  • Support for Post Annex I (re-)registration
  • Extensive experience with International Uniform ChemicaL Information Database (IUCLID)
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) format dossiers

Regulatory Strategy

  • Identification of required studies to support registration intent and data gap analysis
  • Placement and monitoring of tests at Contract Research Organizations (CRO), review and interpretation of study results, and verification of compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards/Good Efficacy Practice (GEP) standards
  • Preparation of data waivers

Hazard, Exposure & Risk Assessments for Human Health & Environment

  • Extensive experience in all aspects of human health and environmental assessment
  • Application of various models, including:  Chesar, ConsExpo, EUROPOEM, FOCUS, and PERSAM
  • Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) modeling, e.g. OECD Toolbox, EPI Suite
  • Endocrine Disruptor (ED) assessments in accordance with EFSA/ECHA guidance
  • Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP)

Litigation Support

  • Data compensation evaluations
  • Intellectual property assessment
  • Scientific case preparation
  • Expert witness testimony

Crop Protection Support in Europe (UK)

Although the UK left the EU on 31st January 2020, the Plant Protection Products Regulation was transposed into UK law almost unchanged, so the provisions of the Regulation apply in full in the UK.

 

Registration Dossier Preparation & Submission

  • Preparation and submission of active substance dossiers for UK registrations including synthetic pesticides, biopesticides, and microbial products for compliance with Plant Protection Product legislation
  • Preparation and submission of UK product dossiers, including national addenda and Article 53 Emergency Authorisations
  • Liaison with UK national regulatory authority, and European regulatory agencies including European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Commission
  • Support for Post Annex I (re-)registration
  • Extensive experience with International Uniform ChemicaL Information Database (IUCLID)

Regulatory Strategy

  • Identification of required studies to support registration intent, data gap analysis, placement, and monitoring of tests at contract research organizations, review and interpretation of study results, and verification of compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)/Good Efficacy Practice (GEP) standards
  • Preparation of data waivers
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) format dossiers
  • Litigation support including data compensation evaluations, intellectual property assessment, scientific case preparation, and expert witness testimony

Hazard, Exposure & Risk Assessments for Human Health & Environment

  • Extensive experience in all aspects of human health and environmental assessment
  • Application of various models, including:  Chesar, ConsExpo, UK POEM, FOCUS, and PERSAM
  • Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) modeling, e.g. OECD Toolbox, EPI Suite
  • Endocrine Disruptor (ED) assessments in accordance with EFSA/ECHA guidance
  • Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP)

Industry Note: Bilingual Labeling Support

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is prioritizing the importance of bilingual pesticide labeling to enhance accessibility and safety information for farmworkers. Bilingual labeling requirements were formalized in February 2023 with the passage of the Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act (PRIA) V. 

The required Spanish translations are available in the EPA Spanish Translation Guide (https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-labels/spanish-translation-guide-pesticide-labeling). These translations must be included on the primary product label on the product container itself. Alternatively, for space restricted labels, a QR code linking to the product SDS (at a minimum) can replace the translated text. The new requirements outline the deadlines by which bilingual labeling must be implemented for each product category from December 2025 to December 2030.

Contact us to discuss how we can ensure your compliance with bilingual labeling requirements.

Crop Protection Experts

Crop Protection

Robin Blake

Principal Consultant

United Kingdom

Crop Protection

Larry Brewer

Senior Science Fellow

Oregon

Crop Protection

Ashlea Frank

Principal Consultant

Texas

Crop Protection

Jennifer Stafford

Principal Consultant

Washington State

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Robin Blake
CEO – Europe / Principal Consultant

Expertise: Registration Dossier

Robin specialises in regulatory affairs strategy and registration dossier preparation for plant protection products, biocides, and fertilisers.

Robin  has over 20 years’ experience in the Crop Protection industry and consulting sector, having previously held various R&D leadership positions at Syngenta and Cyanamid Agriculture UK. He has a broad range of expertise encompassing laboratory and field trials for efficacy, pesticide resistance, and herbicide research, as well as terrestrial ecotoxicology where he was a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Study Director specialising in laboratory, semi-field, and field trials on a range of non-target arthropods, earthworms, honeybees and non-target plants. 

EDUCATION
Ph.D., Agricultural Ecology, University of Reading.
BSc (Hons), Applied Biology, University of Bath.

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Larry Brewer
Senior Science Fellow

Expertise: Terrestrial Ecotoxicology

Larry specializes in wildlife, pollinator, and endangered species risk assessment; pesticide registration/re-registration support; and regulatory study placement and oversight.

Larry has over 40 years of experience spanning terrestrial ecotoxicology, laboratory ecotoxicology testing, ecological risk assessment and endangered species assessment. He is well known for designing and implementing full scale (Tier III) ecotoxicology field studies throughout North America with particular focus on avian, small mammal, pollinator, and terrestrial invertebrate studies. Larry served as Director of Wildlife Toxicology for Smithers (17 years), and as President and Senior Scientist at Ecotoxicology and Biosystems Associates, Inc. directing domestic and international ecotoxicology field research, and ecological risk assessment (8 years). He was an Assistant Professor at the College of Human Health and Environmental Toxicology, Clemson University and the Wildlife Toxicology Section Lead in The Institute of Wildlife and Environmental Toxicology. He taught graduate courses in Wildlife Ecotoxicology and Field Research Techniques. He served as Field Research Leader for the Institute of Wildlife Toxicology, Western Washington University, and spent 17 years as a Wildlife Research Biologist with the Washington State Dept. of Wildlife. Larry has authored numerous publications and book chapters on topics of wildlife and pollinator ecotoxicology field research, and ecological risk assessment.

EDUCATION
M.S., Wildlife Science, University of Washington.
B.S., Fish and Wildlife Biology, Iowa State University.

Linkedin

Ashlea Frank
Principal Consultant

Expertise: Endangered Species

Ashlea helps clients navigate complex environmental and regulatory challenges related to pesticide registration, endangered species compliance, ecological risk assessment, and environmental policy.

With expertise spanning environmental science, regulatory strategy, and technology-driven solutions, Ashlea has led initiatives focused on Endangered Species Act implementation, mitigation development, conservation programs, and emerging EPA regulatory requirements. She is passionate about leveraging data, mapping technologies, and innovative information systems to improve regulatory transparency, streamline decision-making, and help clients successfully adapt to an evolving environmental landscape.

Before joining CSI, she held positions as a Researcher for Texas A&M Extension Service and Queensland Institute of Technology, where she gained experience in agricultural science, vector control, data analysis, and stakeholder communications. This diverse background provides her with a unique perspective on developing practical, science-based solutions that achieve regulatory compliance while supporting business, agricultural, and conservation objectives.

EDUCATION
M.S., Entomology, University of Queensland.
B.A., Physical Anthropology, Southwestern University.

Linkedin

Jennifer Stafford
Principal Consultant

Expertise: Regulatory Compliance, Terrestrial Ecotoxicology, & Wildlife Science.

Jennifer leads CSI’s North American Regulatory Affairs team, managing FIFRA and non-FIFRA product registrations, including conventional, biological and antimicrobial products, devices, and minimum risk pesticides, supporting clients through all stages of federal and state registration from initial registration through long-term registration maintenance. She participates in projects related to ecotoxicology, wildlife biology/ecology, GLP Compliance, database management, study management, pesticide risk assessment, endangered species assessments, and data compensation.

Prior to joining CSI, Jennifer gained 24 years of field research and laboratory ecotoxicology experience, which began with landscape-level GLP pesticide field studies, expanding to endangered species habitat restoration work and Section 7 consultation, then to avian and wildlife GLP regulatory study directorship and laboratory management. She has experience with sample collection and data generation under a wide range of conditions, developing and utilizing large data sets, and is thoroughly familiar with EPA regulatory testing guidelines, Good Laboratory Practices guidelines, and EPA risk assessment processes.

EDUCATION
M.S., Biology/Ecology, Utah State University.
B.S., Environmental Biology, Grand Canyon University.

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