- On May 3, the EPA notified the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) that it had granted a specific exemption under Section 18 of FIFRA for use of thiophanate (Topsin M®) on fruiting vegetables (tomato, pepper, eggplant) to control white mold. The registration numbers for the permitted products are 4581-408, 73545-16, or 73545-16-82695 and the exemption expires on 4/12/07. (EPA letter of 5/3/06).
- Based on a request by IR-4, tolerances are approved for use of the insecticide novaluron (Diamond®). Tolerances of importance to Florida include head and stem brassicas (subgroup 5A), which includes broccoli, Chinese broccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Chinese mustard, cauliflower, cavalo broccolo, and kohlrabi. (Federal Register, 4/5/06).
- Based on a request by IR-4, tolerances are approved for use of the herbicide fomesafen (Flexstar®). Tolerances of importance to Florida include snap bean and cotton. (Federal Register, 5/3/06).
- Based on a request by BASF Corporation and IR-4, tolerances are approved for use of the fungicide pyraclostrobin (Cabrio®). Tolerances of importance to Florida include strawberry, dried, shelled pea and bean (subgroup 6C), and foliage of legume vegetables (group 7). (Federal Register, 4/5/06).
- Based on a request by Bayer CropScience, tolerances are approved for use of the herbicide glufosinate (Ignite®). Tolerances of importance to Florida include oat, rye, triticale, and wheat. (Federal Register, 5/3/06).
- Based on a request by Syngenta, tolerances are approved for use of the insecticide emamectin (Proclaim®). Tolerances of importance to Florida include cotton seed, turnip greens, brassica vegetables (group 5), fruiting vegetables (group 8), and leafy vegetables, except brassicas (group 4). (Federal Register, 4/12/06).
- Based on a request by IR-4, tolerances are approved for use of the herbicide pendimethalin (Prowl®). Tolerances of importance to Florida include carrot, citrus fruit (group 10), and tree nuts (group 14), which includes pecan and chestnut. (Federal Register, 4/12/06).
- On April 27, the FDACS requested from EPA a Section 18 emergency exemption for the use of ApiLife Var (thymol/eucalyptus oil/menthol) to control Varroa mite in honeybee colonies. (FDACS letter of 4/27/06).
- The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has amended the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation, under certain conditions, of fresh commercial citrus fruit (grapefruit, limes, mandarin oranges or
 tangerines, sweet oranges, and tangelos) from approved areas of Peru into the United States. Based on the evidence in a recent pest risk analysis, the Service believes these articles can be safely imported from Peru, provided certain conditions are met. This action will provide for the importation of citrus from Peru into the United States while continuing to protect the United States against the introduction of plant pests. (Federal Register, 5/1/06).
- Based on a petition submitted by Syngenta Seeds, Inc., the EPA has extended a temporary exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the Bacillus thuringiensis VIP3A insect control protein in cotton when applied or used as a plant-incorporated protectant. The tolerance exemption will expire on May 1, 2007. (Federal Register, 4/26/06).
- HeadsUp® is now approved for organic use by OMRI. HeadsUp® is an extract of Chenopodium quinoa containing saponins (approximately equimolar amounts of triterpene bidesmosidic glycosides of oleanolic acid, hederagenin, and phytolaccagenic acid; 49.65 percent). Although the product is not directly fungicidal, it is thought that the mode of action may be an induction of the systemic acquired resistance response in plants. The product is normally applied as a one-time seed treatment with a cost to the grower of $10 to $15 per acre depending on the application rate. (New Agricultural Network, 5/10/06).
- The USDA has proposed rules that would allow cornstarch, water-extracted gums of arabic, guar, locust bean or carob bean, kelp, lecithin, and pectin as non-organically produced agricultural products allowed as ingredients in or on processed products labeled as “organic” or “made with organic ingredients.” (Federal Register, 4/27/06).
- On April 21, the FDACS registered Dupont’s indoxacarb termiticide (EPA EUP No. 352-EUP-169) under an experimental use permit for use as a remedial and/or protective termite control product in post construction structures. (PREC Agenda, 5/4/06).
- The FDACS recently issued proposed rule changes for Chapter 5E-13, Mosquito Control Program Administration. The rules modify a number of items, such as the number of people that can work under a licensed applicator (reduced from 15 to 10) and record keeping for unlicensed applicator training (maintain for three years). (Florida Administrative Weekly, 4/28/06).
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