February 2004

Pesticide Registrations and Actions

• On January 14, the EPA notified the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service (FDACS) that it had granted a specific exemption under Section 18 of FIFRA for use of coumaphos impregnated plastic strips (Checkmite+) in bee hives. (EPA letter of 1/14/04).

• On January 13, the EPA notified the FDACS that it had amended an emergency exemption under section 18 of FIFRA for use of ApiLifeVAR (thymol, menthol/eucalyptus oil) in bee hives during anytime of the year in which all applicable restrictions can be met. (EPA letter of 1/13/04).

• Based on request by Dow AgroSciences LLC, tolerances have been established for residues of the herbicide fluroxypyr in or on corn (sweet or field), sorghum, and grass hay/forage. (Federal Register, 12/31/03).

• Based on request by Dow AgroSciences LLC, tolerances have been established for residues of the fumigant sulfuryl fluoride on stored dried fruit, nuts, and grain (barley, corn, millet, oat, rice, sorghum, triticale, and wheat). (Federal Register, 1/23/04).

• Based on request by IR-4, time-limited tolerances have been established for residues of the fungicide cyprodinil in strawberry and onion (dry bulb or green). The tolerances expire on 12/31/04. (Federal Register, 12/31/03).

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• On January 8, the FDACS registered the herbicide Habitat® (imazapyr) for control of undesirable emergent and floating vegetation in and around standing and flowing water. The EPA registration number for the BASF Corporation product is 241-426. (FDACS PREC February Agenda).

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• BioSafe Systems recently announced the availability of a stabilized peroxide algaecide available for residential use (GreenClean®, EPA Reg. # 70299-4). The material can be used for ornamental ponds, fountains, and water gardens. It is also listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute. (The Grower, November-December 2003).

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On January 22, a U.S. District Court judge issued a final order in a suit that addresses the effects of pesticide on salmonid fish species. The group which sued the EPA maintained that the EPA did not consult with other agencies with regard to the potential for effects. The judge agreed and now certain agricultural pesticides (38 active ingredients) must be applied using buffer zones. The buffer zone is 20 yards for ground application and 100 yards for aerial application from the “ordinary high water mark” of all streams, lakes, estuaries, and other water bodies where salmon are ordinarily found at some time of the year. (Washington State Department of Agriculture email, 1/23/04).

A December 17 court order in NRDC v. Leavitt denied NRDC's "motion to enforce the consent decree." The court found that NRDC's proposed interpretation of the consent decree - faulting EPA for not asking EPA's Science Advisory Panel to rehash the settled issues of atrazine's cancer classification - was without merit. The court concluded that EPA has satisfied its obligations under the consent decree regarding atrazine. Moreover, the court emphasized that under the consent decree, EPA retains its discretion to exercise its scientific judgment. (CropLife America Spotlight, 1/16/04).

Gowan Company has agreed to acquire Syngenta’s Eptam®/Eradicane® (EPTC) herbicide products in the U.S. and Canada. The acquisition will include all assets. (Citrus & Vegetable Magazine, January 2004).

Nufarm Limited announced in January that it has acquired the global phenoxy herbicides business from BASF, which includes six active ingredients: 2,4-D, MCPA, mecoprop, mecoprop-P, dichlorprop, and dichlorprop-P. Nufarm has also acquired Mycoshield® (oxytetracycline) and Agri-mycin 17® (streptomycin) from Syngenta Crop Protection. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, 2/2/04 & The Grower, February 2004).

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