EPA Moves To Cancel Registration For All Flubendiamide-Based Insecticides
March 1, 2016 The EPA is issuing a notice of intent to cancel all Bayer CropScience and Nichino America flubendiamide products that pose a risk to aquatic invertebrates important to the health of aquatic environments.
Required studies showed flubendiamide breaks down into a more highly toxic material that is harmful to species, which are an important part of aquatic food chains. EPA concluded that continued use of the product would result in unreasonable adverse effects on the environment. EPA requested a voluntary cancellation in accordance with the conditions of the original registration.
EPA had issued a time-limited registration to the companies with conditions that were understood and agreed upon. If unreasonable adverse effects on the environment were found by EPA, the companies would submit a request for voluntary cancellation of all flubendiamide registrations within one week of EPA notification.
After being informed of the EPA’s finding on January 29, the companies were asked to submit a request for voluntary cancellation by February 5. They rejected EPA’s request to submit a voluntary cancellation. Bayer had announced its intention to refute EPA’s request in February. Subsequently, EPA initiated cancellation of all currently registered flubendiamide products for the manufacturers’ failure to comply with the terms of the registration.
Flubendiamide is registered for use on more 200 crops, including soybeans, almonds, tobacco, peanuts, cotton, lettuce, alfalfa, tomatoes, watermelon, and bell peppers, with some crops having as many as six applications per year.
Flubendiamide is sold in the U.S. by Bayer under the trade name Belt. For Nichino, it is one of the main active components in Tourismo and Vetica.
Crops that have been properly treated with flubendiamide or that may be treated with existing stocks can still be sold legally. Provisions on handling existing stocks of the pesticide will be finalized once the products have been cancelled.
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