Did We Mention Regulatory Costs? Part 3

Egads. Three reg-related posts in just one morning.

Well, this one isn't exactly about "costs." It's about bugs.

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning its second national bed bug summit for this winter in Washington, D.C. as the blood-sucking pest continues its blitzkrieg on the United States and EPA bans of more effective pesticides are under increasing scrutiny.

...Around when bed bugs started their resurgence, Congress passed a major pesticides law in 1996 and the Clinton EPA banned several classes of chemicals that had been effective bed bug killers.

Here's where the cost-of-regulation had its effect:

...Unlike many of the pesticides banned in the late 1990s, Propoxur was available for use in residential homes until 2007. At that point, the EPA requested further data from its producer for fear it could pose a risk to children. Industry chose to voluntarily restrict its use from residential areas instead...

So rather than spend umpty-dollars to prove that the chemical was safe if used according to instructions, the manufacturer said "Screw it. Not worth the trouble."

EPA. Bedbug-Approved!!

By the way: don't travel in Ohio.