Return of Aldicarb in Florida Citrus Denied by State Agriculture Department
April 22, 2021 The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has denied AgLogic Chemical LLC’s state pesticide registration application for the pesticide aldicarb on citrus crops in Florida. The pesticide registrant’s application failed to comply with requirements of federal law, according to the state agency.
“While there are promising new horizons for fighting citrus greening, like recent breakthroughs at UF/IFAS on genetic resistance, aldicarb poses an unacceptable risk to human, animal, and environmental health in Florida, is one of the world’s most toxic pesticides, and is banned in more than 100 countries,” says Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “The registrant’s application does not meet the requirements of state law, and we must therefore deny the registration of aldicarb for use in the State of Florida. I look forward to working with our citrus growers, the EPA, and all partners to continue supporting Florida citrus in an environmentally conscious way.”
Background: Aldicarb is an N-methyl carbamate insecticide primarily used as a nematicide. Aldicarb is one of 28 active pesticide ingredients deemed extremely hazardous (Class Ia) by the World Health Organization, the WHO’s highest hazard designation. The pesticide has been banned in 125 countries.
Phaseout: In 2010, the EPA phased out aldicarb’s use in the U.S. under an agreement with the pesticide’s manufacturer, with citrus and potatoes phased out first.
Federal Approval: On Jan. 12, 2021, the EPA granted approval for aldicarb’s use in Florida on up to 100,000 acres of oranges and grapefruit for three years through 2023. The product was to be used as a nematicide to combat the invasive pest Asian citrus psyllid, which transmits the citrus greening bacterial pathogen. This approval was challenged in a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Farmworker Association of Florida, and Environmental Working Group. Pesticides must be registered with the State of Florida through the FDACS and must receive approval by the department for use in Florida.
State Denial: On April 19, 2021, the EPA acknowledged in its filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that “it did not make an Endangered Species Act (ESA) effects determination prior to conditionally approving the use of aldicarb on oranges and grapefruit in Florida.” Therefore, the department has determined that the registrant’s application does not meet the requirements of current state and federal law. The applicant will have the opportunity to request an administrative hearing to challenge the department’s determination.
Numerous environmental groups cheered the action to deny the use of aldicarb. Among them was Sierra Club Florida.
“Aldicarb is one of the most dangerous neurotoxic chemicals found anywhere in the world, so toxic it was banned in the U.S. and more than 100 other countries and is one of the few pesticides classified as “extremely hazardous” by the World Health Organization. It can lead to illness and death in adults, children, and animals, and has no place in Florida’s food, water, or soil,” says Deborah Foote, Acting Chapter Director at Sierra Club Florida.
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association and Florida Citrus Mutual have filed Amicus Curiae brief in support of the respondents to lobby for use of the aldicarb.
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