On August 6 and 7, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued significant orders to address health risks posed by two widely used pesticides: Dacthal (DCPA or dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate) and chlorpyrifos.

These actions are part of the EPA’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of the public and the environment.

Emergency Suspension of Dacthal

DCPA is a pesticide registered to control weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, but is primarily used on crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and onions.

On August 6, 2024, the EPA issued an emergency suspension of all registrations of DCPA (Dacthal) due to significant health risks, especially to unborn babies. This is the first time in nearly 40 years that the EPA has taken such emergency action under FIFRA. The suspension follows years of efforts to require the submission of overdue data and assess the pesticide’s risks.

Exposure to DCPA can result in changes to fetal thyroid hormone levels, linked to low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills. The decision has received broad support from various stakeholders, including Congressman Raúl Grijalva and Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, who highlighted the need to protect farmworkers and pregnant women from harmful chemicals.

Despite recent efforts by AMVAC Chemical Corporation, the sole manufacturer of DCPA, to meet the EPA’s data requirements, significant health risks remain. The EPA determined that the continued sale and use of DCPA products posed an imminent hazard to unborn babies, necessitating immediate suspension.

Final Cancellation and Termination of Uses for Chlorpyrifos Products

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide that has been used for many food crops, including soybeans, fruit and nut trees, broccoli, cauliflower, and other row crops, as well as non-food uses.

On August 7, 2024, the EPA announced a final order terminating specific uses of chlorpyrifos products. The order affects Chemstarr’s “Chlorpyrifos 61.5% MUP” and Tide International’s “Chlorpyrifos 4 EC,” terminating their usage in food processing plants and all food-related applications, respectively. Additionally, the EPA has canceled two Central Garden & Pet products, “Equil Chlorpyrifos ULV 1” and “Equil Chlorpyrifos ULV 2.”

This decision follows a Notice of Receipt of Requests from registrants to voluntarily cancel or terminate uses for these products, published on April 3, 2024, and open for public comment until May 3, 2024. After considering the comments received, the EPA finalized its decision to accept these voluntary requests.

In August 2021, the EPA revoked all tolerances for chlorpyrifos, effectively halting its use on food and animal feed. Although the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated this rule in November 2023, the EPA is taking steps to limit its usage further. The EPA expects to issue a proposed rule later this year to revoke tolerances for all but 11 food and feed crop uses, potentially reducing chlorpyrifos application in the U.S. by 70%.

Moving Forward

These decisive actions by the EPA underscore the agency’s commitment to protecting public health from the adverse effects of hazardous pesticides. The EPA will continue to monitor and regulate pesticide usage to ensure safety and compliance with federal laws.

You are suggested to visit REACH24H or consult us to stay in tune with the latest information in the industry.

For more information on these actions, please refer to “Reference Links” to visit the source on the EPA website.

Regulatory Background

Pesticide regulation in the United States is regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), and therefore, US pesticide regulations are often referred to as US EPA regulations.

One of the most important regulations is FIFRA, or the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. This regulation is the legal basis for the regulation of pesticides in the United States. FIFRA is the Federal statute that governs the registration, distribution, sale, and use of pesticides in the United States. Generally, before a pesticide may be sold or distributed in the United States, it must be registered (licensed) with EPA.

In addition to FIFRA, there are two other supporting laws:

Pesticide Registration Improvement Act, or PRIA. There are more than 200 pesticide registration action codes in the United States. As a supplement to FIFRA, PRIA gives detailed clarification for different registration action codes, their applicable scope, review decision time, and EPA administration fee.

Code of Federal Regulations (or CFR). There are 50 Titles in total, covering all federal regulations. The contents related to pesticide registrations are in Title 40. It covers the relevant registration procedures, data requirements, data protection, etc., serving as the implementation regulation to FIFRA.

Reference Links

• EPA Issues Emergency Order to Stop Use of Pesticide Dacthal to Address Serious Health Risk
• EPA Issues Final Cancellation and Termination of Uses Order for Several Chlorpyrifos Products
• EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0374 DCPA Registration Review Docket
• EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0223 The Final Order for Several Chlorpyrifos Products
• Frequently Asked Questions About Chlorpyrifos
• Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
• Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA)
• Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

Contact Us

REACH24H specializes in helping companies in the pesticide industry comply with global regulations. We offer various services, including registration, notification, data support, and compliance services, to keep companies informed about the latest regulatory developments and best practices.

• U. S. EPA Pesticide Registration
• Pesticide Risk Assessment
• GLP Study Monitoring
• QSAR
• Agrochemical Market Research & Regulation Compliance Report

If you need any compliance services, please feel free to contact us.

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