EPA: No Carbofuran for Food Crops

WASHINGTONThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule revoking regulations that that allowed small residues of the pesticide carbofuran in food.

Carbofuran is an N-methyl carbamate insecticide and nematicide that has been registered to control pests in soil and on leaves in a variety of field, fruit and vegetable crops. EPA concluded that dietary, worker and ecological risks are unacceptable for all uses of carbofuran. All products containing carbofuran generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on humans and the environment and do not meet safety standards, and therefore are ineligible for reregistration.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, no U.S. food crops will be allowed to contain residues of carbofuran after Dec. 31, unless it can be proven the crop was treated before that date. EPA temporarily will allow the chemical to be used on certain crops such as field corn, potatoes, pumpkins and sunflowersalong with two non-food crop uses, pine seedlings and spinach grown for seed.