The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to lift food tolerance restrictions on the pesticide chlorpyrifos, following a recent federal court ruling. This decision will lead to the reinstatement of the pesticide’s use in agriculture, albeit with specific guidelines.
Chlorpyrifos, a widely used pesticide, had its food tolerance restrictions imposed in 2020, significantly limiting its use in crops such as soybeans and sugarbeets. However, a federal appeals court in early November deemed the EPA’s ban on food tolerances as arbitrary, prompting a reassessment of its usage.
Daren Coppock from the Ag Retailers Association explained that the lifting of restrictions will occur once the court formally communicates its decision to the EPA. This will allow the use of chlorpyrifos on 11 specified crops, with the EPA set to issue a new rule removing its use for other applications.
The EPA is also in discussions with registrants to mitigate exposure risks associated with the 11 approved uses of chlorpyrifos, as referenced in an Eighth Circuit Court decision.
The American Soybean Association and American Sugarbeet Growers Association have expressed support for the restoration of chlorpyrifos, emphasising the importance of following scientific guidance and the need for effective pest and disease management tools in agriculture.
