Pesticide Regulations and Actions

Food Related Actions

• On February 9, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) conditionally accepted Dow AgroSciences’ supplemental labeling of fenbuconazole (Enable®) for control of diseases in citrus.  The product’s EPA registration number is 62719-416.  (FDACS letter, 3/6/07).
•  On March 2, FDACS accepted the significant new use of the miticide/insecticide fenpyroximate (Portal®) for citrus.  The EPA registration number for the Nichino America product is 71711-19.  (FDACS letter, 3/2/07). 

•  Cerexagri has submitted an experimental use permit (EUP) application to the EPA for the use of its soil fumigant dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) for outdoor use on 500 acres of eggplant, pepper, tomato, strawberry, and squash in FL, GA, and NC.  (Federal Register, 3/7/07).  

•  The EPA has once again approved a Section 18 specific exemption for the use of coumaphos (CheckMite+ Bee Hive Pest control strips) in beehives to control Varroa mites and the small hive beetle.  The exemption will expire on 2/1/08.  (FDACS letter, 2/20/07).

•  Tolerances have been accepted for the herbicide sethoxydim (Poast®).  Tolerances of importance to Florida include root and tuber vegetables (group 1), radish, turnip, okra, and dillweed.  (Federal Register, 2/28/07). 

•  Tolerances have been accepted for the herbicide orthosulfamuron.  Tolerances of importance to Florida include rice grain and straw.  (Federal Register, 2/28/07). 

•  The EPA and the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency have given the first joint approval of a North American Free Trade Agreement harmonized label for a pesticide product.  The pesticide product is called Far-Go Granular Herbicide in the United States (EPA reg. 10163-287) and Avadex MicroActiv Herbicide in Canada and is registered for use on wheat, barley, beets, lentils and peas.  A harmonized label allows for cross-border movement of pesticide product since the harmonized package labeling satisfies the regulatory requirements in both countries with unique use directions to accommodate differences in the two countries' use patterns.  This accomplishment represents an important milestone to allow pesticide products to move across borders legally.  Currently, 12 more pesticide products are in the pipeline for NAFTA label development.  (EPA OPP Update, 3/9/07). 

•  The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation into the continental United States of mangoes from India under certain conditions.  As a condition of entry, the mangoes must undergo irradiation treatment and be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with additional declarations providing specific information regarding the treatment and inspection of the mangoes and the orchards in which they were grown.  In addition, the mangoes will be subject to inspection at the port of first arrival.  This action allows for the importation of mangoes from India into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests.  (Federal Register, 3/12/07).