Pesticide Broadcast (Newsletter)

Stephen J. Toth, Jr., Pest Management Information Specialist
Wayne G. Buhler, Pesticide Education Specialist

Volume 16, Number 9, December 29, 2006

Remaining Lindane Registrations Cancelled

EPA has issued final orders cancelling the registrations of all remaining pesticide products containing lindane. In July 2006, EPA received formal requests to voluntarily cancel their lindane pesticide product registrations from all registrants, first Chemtura USA Corporation, followed by AGSCO Inc., Drexel Chemical Company, and JLM International, Inc. The Agency received no substantive comments in response to an August 23, 2006, Federal Register notice announcing its receipt of these requests and inviting public comment. Therefore, as announced in the Federal Register on December 13, 2006 (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/December/Day-13/p21101.htm), EPA has granted the voluntary cancellation requests, and sent cancellation orders to the registrants. Technical (manufacturing use) products were cancelled effective October 4, 2006, and the last date for use of these products will be July 1, 2007. Cancellation of end-use product registrations will be effective on July 1, 2007, and the last use date for these products will be October 1, 2009. The Agency expects that all existing stocks of lindane will be depleted by that time. This action results in the cancellation of all remaining lindane pesticide products registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for use in the United States.

Lindane is a broad spectrum, organochlorine insecticide used to treat the seeds of barley, corn, oats, rye, sorghum, and wheat. EPA announced in early August 2006 that it has determined that the risks of continued lindane registration outweigh the benefits, and therefore the remaining uses of lindane are not eligible for reregistration. EPA expects the cancellation of these uses to result in no significant loss to U.S. agriculture due to the successful development and registration of safer alternative pesticides in recent years. Once the cancellation process is complete, EPA will propose to revoke the existing tolerances (or allowable residues of lindane) for animal fat.

The six seed treatment use cancellations are the last of many lindane voluntary cancellations that have taken place since the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) was enacted. Lindane is a toxic, persistent, and bio-accumulative pesticide that has been of international as well as domestic concern.

Information about lindane is available at http://www.regulations.gov in docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2002-0202, and on the Agency's lindane reregistration Web page, http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/lindane.

Source: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pesticide Programs, EPA Pesticide Program Updates, December 15, 2006

Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a covenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact an agent of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in your county.

Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

Last modified on December 29, 2006 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.