Nov. 3: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced it will uphold its May 2009 decision to revoke food tolerances for the pesticide carbofuran, commonly known as Furadan. This rule will ban the use of carbofuran on food crops after December 31, 2009. Carbofuran is an important pesticide in controlling corn rootworm, an insect that feeds on corn silks, pollen, leaves and roots creating extensive damage to the crop.

“We are concerned that important scientific information has been overlooked by the agency in this decision,” NCGA President Darrin Ihnen said. “The use of carbofuran has diminished over the past decade since the introduction of biotechnology, but it remains an important product for rescue treatment in refuge acres.”

NCGA has expressed concern on numerous occasions with the process EPA used to come to this decision. While the food tolerances for carbofuran have been revoked, the underlying registration for carbofuran remains in place. The product could be legally applied to a field but if residue is detected, the food would be considered adulterated which could cause trade concerns.

EPA also denied a request from NCGA and other agricultural organizations for an administrative hearing on this case. Further legal action is being considered by the product registrant and allied grower groups.