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EPA updates chlorpyrifos label
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has made changes to the chlorpyrifos insecticide label to better comply with the Endangered Species Act.
Chlorpyrifos is used to control foliage and soil insect pests.
Kyle Kunkler with the American Soybean Association says the changes were expected and seem reasonable.
“They’ll require things like not applying chlorpyrifos products withing 25 feet of watersheds and making sure farmers are mindful of how those products are being applied so certain species won’t be impacted. Ultimately, we think these are the types of mitigations that would be appropriate.”
EPA also included additional Endangered Species Protection Bulletins that set geographically specific limitations on the insecticide use and the agency will soon release a proposed rule for comment to revoke the tolerance associated with all food uses, except 11 food and feed crops.
These updates follow a court ruling last November from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals that said a former EPA rule that banned chlorpyrifos use on food was arbitrary. The American Farm Bureau Federation, ASA and other agriculture groups were part of that litigation.
Kunkler says the insecticide was available for farmers in the 2024 growing season.
“We expect that soybean farmers and others will have this product available for 2025 and beyond.”
EPA says the registration review process for chlorpyrifos is ongoing. Early next year, the agency plans to issue an amended proposed interim decision for public comment with a decision expected in late 2025.
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