Ruckelshaus v. Monsanto Co.

In this case, we are asked to review a United States District Court’s determination that several provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 61 Stat. 163, as amended, 7 U. S. C. § 136 et seq., are unconstitutional. The provisions at issue authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use data submitted by an applicant for registration of a pesticide1 in evaluating the application of a subsequent applicant, and to disclose publicly some of the submitted data.

Over the past century, the use of pesticides to control weeds and minimize crop damage caused…