EPA Denies Activist Petition on Chlorpyrifos

  • On April 6, 2017

On March 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to deny a petition by activist groups requesting a ban on the insecticide chlorpyrifos. The decision is a reversal from a November 2016 proposal from the EPA under then-President Barack Obama which would have effectively banned chlorpyrifos in agricultural uses.

EPA’s move to deny the decision indicates a return to sound-science and predictable review, and sets a positive precedent for other pesticides facing registration-review.

Earlier this year, ASTA submitted formal comments both individually and as part of the Pesticide Policy Coalition, to the EPA expressing support for chlorpyrifos as an important and safe seed treatment, and urging EPA to base its decision on sound science under the statutory standards set forth in the Federal Insecticide Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and (FIFRA) Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).  It’s important that farmers have a robust toolbox at their disposal to fight pests which can hurt yield and be vectors for disease.

EPA will now focus its attention on updating and revising its human health assessment for chlorpyrifos under the standard procedures of the ongoing registration review process, scheduled for completion on October 1, 2022, in order to support future decision-making.