US environmental regulators will now review pesticide safety every 15 years

US environmental regulators are changing how they review the safety of pesticides. They will now formally reassess each pesticide's safety every 15 years, including its allowed residue levels on food.

Before this, many pesticides went decades without a full safety review, even as scientific understanding of their effects evolved. This change means that older chemicals, like atrazine, will face regular scrutiny under current scientific standards. It creates a predictable cycle for manufacturers and farmers, but also a regular opportunity for environmental groups to challenge existing approvals.