EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board issues ruling on flubendiamide

EPA upholds decision to cancel registration for the insecticide flubendiamide. Growers already in possession of flubendiamide-containing products should use them this growing season if possible.

In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requested Bayer CropScience to voluntarily withdraw registrations for flubendiamide-containing products, affecting Bayer’s insecticide Belt and Nichino’s pre-mix insecticide Tourismo. Bayer requested a formal hearing before EPA’s Administrative Law Judge, under EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board. On July 29, 2016, the Environmental Appeals Board upheld the earlier EPA decision to cancel registration for Bayer’s insecticide flubendiamide. The Environmental Appeals Board will permit distributors and retailers to distribute and sell remaining flubendiamide inventories, and permit growers to continue using product consistent with label use directions.

For growers holding either one of these products, Michigan State University Extension recommends using them this growing season if possible. See MSU Extension’s “2016 Michigan Fruit Management Guide” (E0154) for crop and pest-specific recommendations.

Drs. Wise and Isaacs’ work is funded in part by MSU’s AgBioResearch.

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