The EPA recently announced changes to several chlorpyrifos products. The organization has issued a final cancellation order for:
• Corteva’s Dursban 50W in Water Soluble Packets
• Three Gharda chlorpyrifos products
An amendment to the existing stocks provisions will also go into effect for:
• Two Liberty chlorpyrifos end-use products
• Three Winfield chlorpyrifos end-use products
Chlorpyrifos has been in use as a pesticide since 1965 but has undergone review several times over the past couple of decades. Certain uses of it have been phased out over time, buffer zones have been increased and worker safety requirements have been enhanced.
Most recently, in August 2021, EPA issued a final rule revoking all tolerances of the chemical – effective Feb. 28, 2022. This stopped the use of chlorpyrifos on all food and animal feed. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit then issued a ruling in Nov. 2023 that reinstated tolerances.
At this time, all the chlorpyrifos tolerances have been reinstated and are currently in effect, however, EPA expects to issue a proposed rule this year to revoke the tolerances associated with the chemical – though there will be 11 exceptions.
Among those exceptions will be chlorpyrifos use in:
• Alfalfa
• Apple
• Asparagus
• Cherry (tart)
• Citrus
• Cotton
• Peach
• Soybean
• Strawberry
• Sugar beet
• Spring and winter wheat
These use tolerances will come with additional restrictions for location, rate of application, and precautions to protect farmworkers, vulnerable populations, and vulnerable species and their habitats.
According to the EPA, this proposal could decrease the average annual pounds of chlorpyrifos applied in the U.S. by 70%.
