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EPA Pesticide Program Updates: December 20, 2001Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, December 20, 2001 IN THIS UPDATE:
Acephate: Request to Delete Uses and Voluntarily Cancel Certain Product RegistrationsOn November 28, 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced receipt of requests by certain registrants of the organophosphorus pesticide, acephate to terminate certain uses and voluntarily cancel certain products containing acephate. The requests to cancel certain uses will reduce residential risks that exceed the Agency's level of concern. EPA will accept comments on the requests until December 28, 2001. After consideration of public comment EPA will decide whether to approve the requests.Acephate is an organophosphorus insecticide registered to control certain insect pests on a variety of field, fruit, and vegetable crops, in food handling establishments, on ornamental plants both in greenhouses and outdoors, and on turfgrass sites, including residential lawns, golf courses, sod farms, and industrial sites. Acephate is also registered for use in and around the home to control common household insect pests. During development of the Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED), EPA identified risk concerns for residents, including children, who contact treated surfaces in homes following indoor application. EPA also identified a risk of concern for young children playing on treated lawns. In order to address these concerns prior to completion of the IRED, Valent USA corporation (Valent) and the other technical registrants notified EPA of their intent to formally request amendment of their registrations to delete these uses. Specifically, Valent requested that EPA amend all of its registered products to delete the use of acephate on residential indoor and turfgrass sites (except golf courses, sod farms, and spot or mound treatment for harvester and fire ant control). EPA will soon release the IRED, which further describes the risks associated with acephate uses in and around the home. The IRED also outlines EPA's other risk concerns and risk management measures adopted in the IRED to address them. The Federal Register notice is available on EPA's web site. Amendment to the Rodenticide Cluster and Zinc Phosphide Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) DocumentOn November 28, 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the decision to rescind the bittering agent and indicator dye requirements from the Rodenticide Cluster and Zinc Phosphide Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED). Comments on this amendment, identified by docket control number OPP-34240, must receive on or before December 28, 2001.This decision amends the rodenticide cluster (brodifacoum, bromadiolone, bromethalin, chlorophacinone, diphacinone, and pival) and zinc phosphide RED. It came about after extensive discussions, meetings, and recommendations from the Rodenticide Stakeholder Workgroup (RSW) and with agreement from the rodenticide registrants. EPA accepted the RSW's recommendation to rescind the requirement for indicator dyes based on lack of a suitable dye. In addition, there are issues such as lack of data on the usefulness of dyes. The decision to rescind the requirements for bittering agents requirement includes the RSW's concern that bittering agents may reduce the effectiveness of rodenticide baits. In addition, the inclusion of a bittering agent does not make the bait less toxic nor does it provide absolute protection for children. EPA has determined that the rodenticide bait products are eligible for reregistration without indicator dyes and bittering agents. Although indicator dyes and bittering agents may not be necessary in all cases, EPA supports voluntary incorporation of these ingredients in rodenticide formulations. The Federal Register notice with a summary of the Rodenticide Cluster and Zinc Phosphide amendment is available on EPA's web site. Availability of Azinphos-Methyl and Phosmet Interim Risk Management Decision DocumentsOn November 28, 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in the Federal Register the availability of the interim risk management decisions (IRED) for azinphos-methyl and phosmet. This notice starts a 60-day public participation period during which the public is encouraged to submit written comments on the interim risk management decision documents.Azinphos-methyl, an organophosphorus insecticide, was first registered in 1959 and is widely used in agriculture and provides important pest control benefits to growers of orchard fruit, nut, and other crops. However, azinphos-methyl also poses a high degree of risk to agricultural workers, as well as significant acute ecological risks. The Agency's actions address both the high risks and benefits associated with current agricultural uses of azinphos-methyl. To improve worker safety and lessen ecological risks, EPA's actions for azinphos-methyl include:
Phosmet, an organophosphate insecticide first registered in 1966, is widely used in agriculture and provides important pest control benefits to growers of orchard fruit, nut, and other crops. In order to eliminate phosmet exposure in residential settings, improve worker safety, and lessen ecological risks, EPA's actions for phosmet include:
To enhance protection of agricultural workers from exposure to azinphos-methyl and phosmet during the phase-out and time-limited registration periods, a variety of stringent new precautions are being implemented to reduce exposure, including longer periods before a worker can enter a treated area, limiting the number of applications, and prohibiting aerial application for almost all azinphos-methyl uses. Provided that risk mitigation measures are adopted, azinphos-methyl and phosmet fit into their own risk cup; their individual, aggregate risks are within acceptable levels. EPA has been evaluating azinphos-methyl and phosmet as part of the Agency's process to individually review the organophosphorus pesticides and take necessary risk reduction measures as required under the FQPA and FIFRA. EPA's next step under FQPA is to consider the cumulative risks of the organophosphorus pesticides, which share a common mechanism of toxicity. The interim risk management decision documents on azinphos-methyl and phosmet cannot be considered final until this consideration of organophosphorus cumulative risks is complete. When the cumulative risks of the organophosphorus pesticides have been considered, EPA will issue its final tolerance reassessment decision for azinphos-methyl and phosmet, and further risk mitigation measures may be needed. The Federal Register notice is available on EPA's web site. The IREDs and risk/benefit assessment documents are also available. Public Comment Period Opened for Common Mechanism Determination for Thiocarbamate and Dithiocarbamate PesticidesThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced an opportunity for the public to comment on its determination on whether certain chemicals widely used in homes, gardens, and in agriculture as fungicides and herbicides share a common mechanism of toxicity. The thiocarbamate and dithiocarbamate pesticides are subgroups belonging to a larger group of chemicals known as carbamates. A cumulative risk assessment considers the combined risks from exposure to different pesticides that act the same way in the body—known as a common mechanism of toxicity- which helps EPA make regulatory decisions that protect public health, especially the health of infants and children. Identifying pesticides and other substances that share a common mechanism of toxicity is the first step of the cumulative risk assessment process.EPA made these determinations based on evidence that pesticides in these two subgroups may affect the body through the same major pathway. Carbamates have been given high priority in EPA's review of older pesticides and associated residue limits. Interested parties have until February 22, 2002, to submit comments. For more information on how to submit comments, visit the Office of Pesticide Programs Web site. Note: For general questions on pesticides and pesticide poisoning prevention, contact the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN), toll-free, at: 1-800-858-7378, by e-mail at nptn@ace.orst.edu, or by visiting their Web site. For information about ongoing activities in the Office of Pesticide Programs, visit OPPs home page. Or call or write OPP directly at: Communication Services Branch |
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 Western Integrated Pest Management Center Pest Management Centers are sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service |
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