AGNET MAY 19, 1999
Engineered corn can kill monarch butterflies
GM potatoes and all that: "everyone is a loser in this sorry affair"
Scientists doubt GM food research
Advisory committee on novel foods and processes
GM food scares 'risk UK lead in science'
Ministers to insist GM foods are safe
Monsanto to market GM sugar beet in U.S. by 2000
PNN update
Emamectin benzoate; pesticide tolerance
Intent to suspend certain pesticide registrations
Notice of federal invention available for licensing and intent to grant
exclusive license
Rhizobium inoculants; proposed exemption from the requirement of a
tolerance
Notice of filing of pesticide petitions
Notice of receipt of requests for amendments to delete uses in certain
pesticide registrations
Organophosphate pesticide: azinphos-methyl; availability of revised risk
assessments and public participation on risk management
Agnet is produced by researchers at the Agri-Food Risk Management and
Communications Project at the University of Guelph, is edited by Douglas
Powell (dpowell@uoguelph.ca), Sarah Grant (segrant@uoguelph.ca) and Amanda
Whitfield (awhitfie@uoguelph.ca), and is sponsored by the Ontario Ministry
of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Plants Program at the University of
Guelph, with additional support provided by the U.S. National Pork
Producers, the U.S. National Food Processors Association, Novartis Seeds,
Dairy Farmers of Canada, AGCare (Agricultural Groups Concerned About
Resources and the Environment), Monsanto Canada, Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited
(Canada), the U.S. National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Ontario
Agri-Food Technologies, Novartis Crop Protection Canada, Dairy Farmers of
Ontario, the Rutgers University Food Safety Extension Program, the Crop
Protection Institute, Eastern Region Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,
Ag-West Biotech, Capital Health, the Ontario Soybean Growers Marketing
Board, the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, Food Industry Environmental
Network, Dow AgroSciences, W.G. Thompson & Sons, Crop and Food Research
New Zealand, and the Agricultural Adaptation Council (CanAdapt Program).
archived at:
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ENGINEERED CORN CAN KILL MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
May 19, 1999
Cornell University News Service
ITHACA, N.Y.QAn increasingly popular commercial corn, genetically
engineered to produce a bacterial toxin to protect against corn pests, has
an unwanted side effect: Its pollen kills monarch butterfly larvae in
laboratory tests, according to a report by Cornell University researchers.
Writing in the latest issue (May 20) of the journal Nature, the Cornell
researchers note that this hybrid crop, known as Bt-corn, has genes from
the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spliced into the plant genes.
These hybrids are very effective against the ravenous European corn borer,
a major corn pest that is destroyed by the plant's toxic tissue. The
engineered corn is safe for human consumption.
Unlike many pesticides, the Bt-corn has been shown to have no effect on
many "nontarget" organismsQpollinators such as honeybees or beneficial
predators of pests like ladybugs. But the Bt-modified corn produces pollen
containing crystalline endotoxin from the bacterium genes. When this corn
pollen is dispersed by the wind, it lands on other plants, including
milkweed, the exclusive food of monarch caterpillars and commonly found
around cornfields.
Like all grasses, corn is wind-pollinated, and the pollen can be blown
more than 60 yards from the edge of cornfields. "Pollen is that yellow
dusting your car gets on spring and summer days; pollen is everywhere,"
says John E. Losey, Cornell assistant professor of entomology and the
primary investigator on the study. "That's why we are concerned about
this problem."
Other researchers on the study were Linda S. Rayor, Cornell instructor in
entomology, and Maureen E. Carter, Cornell research aide.
"Monarchs are considered to be a flagship species for conservation. This
is a warning bell," says Rayor. "Monarchs themselves are not an endangered
species right now, but as their habitat is disrupted or destroyed, their
migratory phenomena is becoming endangered."
In the laboratory tests, monarchs fed milkweed leaves dusted with
so-called transformed pollen from a Bt-corn hybrid ate less, grew more
slowly and suffered a higher mortality rate, the researchers report.
Nearly half of these larvae died, while all of the monarch caterpillars
fed leaves dusted with nontransformed corn pollen or fed leaves without
corn pollen survived the study.
The toxin in the transformed pollen, the researchers say, goes into the
gut of the caterpillar, where it binds to specific sites. When the toxin
binds, the gut wall changes from a protective layer to an open sieve so
that pathogens usually kept within the gut and excreted are released into
the insect's body. As a result, the caterpillar quickly sickens and dies.
Bt-engineered corn is among the first major commercial successes for
agricultural biotechnology. Last year, more than 7 million acres of the
hybrid crop were planted by U.S. farmers primarily to control the European
corn borer. Before the advent of Bt-corn, this pest was extremely
difficult to control because it bores into the stalk, where it is
protected from pesticides. It produces several generations a year. Because
it was so difficult to control effectively with pesticides, annual losses
averaged $1.2 billion. In contrast,Bt-corn provides essentially total
season-long control at a reasonable cost without the use of pesticides. At
least 18 different Bt-engineered crops have been approved for field
testing in the United States. As of last year, transformed corn, potatoes
and cotton had been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for
commercial use.
Several factors make monarch caterpillars particularly likely to make
contact with corn pollen, Losey says. Monarch larvae feed exclusively on
milkweed because it provides protection against predators. The plant
contains cardenolides, which are toxic, bitter chemicals that the monarch
caterpillar incorporates into its body tissues, rendering it unpalatable
to predators. Milkweed grows best in "disturbed" habitats, like the edges
of cornfields, Losey notes.
The butterflies overwinter in Mexico and by the spring begin migrating
north. The first generation of the year crosses into Texas, other Gulf
Coast states and Florida, seeking milkweed on which to lay their eggs and
feed. By late May or early June, the second generation of adults has
emerged and heads north to areas including the Midwest Corn Belt. Monarch
caterpillars are feeding on milkweed during the period when corn is
shedding pollen, Losey says. Thus "they may be in the right place at the
right time to be exposed to Bt-corn pollen."
Says Losey: "We need to look at the big picture here. Pollen from Bt-corn
could represent a serious risk to populations of monarchs and other
butterflies, but we can't predict how serious the risk is until we have a
lot more data. And we can't forget that Bt-corn and other transgenic crops
have a huge potential for reducing pesticide use and increasing yields.
This study is just the first step, we need to do more research and then
objectively weigh the risks versus the benefits of this new technology."
GM POTATOES AND ALL THAT
"EVERYONE IS A LOSER IN THIS SORRY AFFAIR"
May 18, 1999
BBC News Online Science Editor Dr David Whitehouse
So Dr Arpad Pusztai's poor rats do not throw a dark shadow over all
research into genetically-modified (GM) crops and foods. It is a
conclusion that most scientists had expected, but whether it reassures the
public about the safety of GM crops remains to be seen.
Food under the microscope Everyone is a loser in this sorry affair. The
research institute concerned appeared harsh and dismissive in its
treatment of Dr Arpad Pusztai. Dr Pusztai himself had his scientific
reputation tarnished, and parts of the media have not come out of it well,
having produced ill-informed, scare-mongering reports of the research in
question.
The green lobby had clearly wanted a fight with scientists over GM foods.
And they got it, winning round one.
The pressure groups were delighted with the reaction they received in
February after they organised a press conference attended by 20 scientists
to highlight what they saw as the dangerous consequences of Dr Pusztai's
work.
Role of news organisations
The news organisations bought it - the conference got headline coverage
and a moral panic was born. But few in the media enquired into the
qualifications of these scientists who were hardly world-class.
Many of those scientists must be feeling a little uncomfortable now after
the Royal Society's findings.
The distinguished organisation's report says that Dr Pusztai's research
was flawed and that it was unjustifiable to draw any sweeping and damning
conclusions about GM foods from his work, which was released to the public
at far too early a stage.
So what are the lessons here?
Peer review
The Royal Society says that scientists working in such delicate areas
should get feedback and criticism from their colleagues so that they are
sure of their results before they release them to the media.
This is a strategy that may work in less contentious areas of research but
as far as GM foods are concerned we can be sure that Dr Pusztai's work
will not be the last controversial study to be picked up early and
exaggerated by the media.
This is the inevitable consequence of the "What do we fear? Who is to
blame?" approach to science that some in the media hold.
Many reports look at things from the perspective of the consumer, not
enough bother to acknowledge the work of scientists whose endeavours have
ensured there is more to buy at the supermarket than just mangy apples and
products made from fungus-ridden, low-grade wheat.
It is to be hoped that the Royal Society's verdict on the Pusztai affair
will bring some sensible debate to the GM issue.
SCIENTISTS DOUBT GM FOOD RESEARCH
May 19, 1999
GUARDIAN (London)
Tim Radford, Science Editor
The row over genetically modified crops took a twist last night as
Britain's leading scientists dismissed the findings which sparked the
latest furore.
A specially convened Royal Society group maintained that the experiments
of Arpad Pusztai who said last August that genetically-modified potatoes
stunted the growth of his laboratory rats were 'flawed in many aspects of
design, execution and analysis.'
But, they said, that did not prove that GM foods were safe. And as a
Commons select committee called for a code of practice to ensure that
scientific news reporting should be 'factually accurate', environmental
campaigners accused them of making recommendations 'brewed up in the
basement of a corporate lobbying firm.' Meanwhile, the Scottish National
Party called for an end to testing of GM crops north of the border.
Dr Pusztai, the Hungarian-born expert on plant toxins called lectins, said
last night he had been treated unfairly. Its six anonymous investigators
had given him too little time to consider their findings, and had not
taken up his offer to discuss results, which were still confidential.
'Obviously I don't agree with them. Why should we trust these six unnamed
referees?' he asked. 'Who the hell are they? As far as I am concerned they
could be anything.'
Dr Pusztai, at the age of 68, was bundled out of the Rowett Research
Institute in Aberdeen last year, a few days after he had described in a
World In Action TV programme his attempts to devise new ways of testing
the safety of GM foods and the disturbing turn of his research.
He said rats fed potatoes modified with a insecticide gene from snowdrops
suffered damage to their organs and their immune systems.
An internal audit at the Rowett found his conclusions unjustified. But in
February an international group of scientists rallied to his support, and
reopened the row, to even wider public alarm.
The Royal Society, founded in 1660 as an independent scientific academy,
began its own investigation, and its conclusions had to be faxed to Dr
Pusztai late last week in Norway 'which is where I have to go now if I
want to do experimental work,' he said.
He added: 'The affair cost me my health. I thought it had gone away and
was quietly doing some work in some other part of the European continent.'
The Royal Society is a science elite: some of its members helped to found
the new world of genetic research. It has already declared GM research as
important for farming, health and nutrition. But its latest report called
for more safety research. 'Each GM food must be assessed individually,' it
declared.
Environmentalists were not impressed. Doug Parr, of Greenpeace, said:
'People should still be worried. This changes nothing and the questions
that Dr Pusztai's research raised, remain unanswered.'
Save British Science, a lobby of professional scientists, welcomed
yesterday's Commons select committee report on the scientific advisory
system, and the problems of GM food. The report suggested that scientists
should respond competently to media pressure, that the media should be
obliged to report scientific matters accurately, that the benefits of GM
technology would be lost to Britain unless there was rational debate, and
that scientists serving the biotechnology industry should not be barred
from the government's scientific advisory system.
The committee also heard evidence from Dr Pusztai, and said yesterday:
'The press continues to give credibility to Dr Pusztai's claim despite it
being contradicted by his own evidence.'
Adrian Bebb, of Friends of the Earth, said: 'The report smells as if it
was brewed up in the basement of some corporate lobbying firm. It has no
credibility whatever.'
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NOVEL FOODS AND PROCESSES
May 17, 1999
Reference No.: 1441
Advisory Committee On Novel Foods And Processes
The Biotechnology Knowledge Centre
ACNFP Statement On The Studies Conducted At The Rowett Research
Institute On Potatoes Genetically Modified To Produce The
Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) Lectin Introduction The Committee has
reviewed a number of documents relating to the studies carried out at the
Rowett Research Institute on potatoes genetically modified to produce the
snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) lectin (1-5). The Committee had not been
asked to assess the safety of the particular lines of genetically modified
(GM) potatoes tested in these studies as it was not intended that these GM
potatoes would be released onto the market. However, given the fact that
the results of the studies were widely publicised, and that they appeared
to raise a number of generic questions about the safety assessment of GM
foods, the Committee considered it essential that it should have an
opportunity to review the studies. Unfortunately, despite frequent
requests, the original study reports have not been made available to the
Committee and it had to rely on a number of documents that were already in
the public domain.
Background
A series of studies had been carried out in rats using both raw and cooked
GM and non-GM potatoes. In addition, raw and cooked potatoes spiked with
either the snowdrop lectin or the jack bean lectin, concanavalin A (ConA)
were also tested. The potatoes were included in the diet and were fed
either for a period of 10 days or 110 days. Body weight gain was monitored
throughout each study and at the end of each study, organ weight
measurements were carried out. In one of the short term studies (10-day)
tissue samples were taken from the gastrointestinal tract of rats fed
either the GM potato (raw and cooked) or potato (raw and cooked) spiked
with the snowdrop lectin, for histological examination. In addition, an
assessment of immune function was performed in some of the studies using
the lymphocyte proliferation assay.
Results
It had been widely reported in the media that the GM potatoes tested in
these studies produced an adverse effect on growth and immune function in
rats. The histological findings were similarly publicised as indicating
that the GM potatoes produced adverse effects in the gastrointestinal
tract. Given the nature of these findings, the Committee asked that the
available data be referred to the Committee on Toxicity (COT) for advice
on the significance of these findings. The COTUs advice is detailed in the
attached statement.
Having considered all the data made available, the ACNFP agreed with the
COT that the studies were poorly designed and did not appear to be
addressing any clear hypothesis. Some changes in body weight and organ
weight were evident in some of the studies. However, although attempts had
been made to ensure that the potato-supplemented diets were nutritionally
adequate, there were serious doubts as to whether this had been achieved.
The Committee noted that the nutritional adequacy and nutrient density of
the diet could have an effect on body weight and organ weight. In
addition, the effects of dietary restriction due to palatability problems
did not appear to have been taken into consideration in the studies and
this could also have been responsible for the weight changes observed, as
well as the histological findings in the gut.
The Committee noted that the histopathological changes observed in the GI
tract of animals fed the raw GM potatoes were also seen in rats fed raw
potato spiked with the GNA lectin, although the changes observed in this
group were quantitatively smaller than in rats fed the GM potatoes. The
Committee also questioned the appropriateness of using raw potatoes in the
studies, given that potatoes were not normally consumed in this way, and
noted that feeding rats raw potato starch was well known to produce
alterations of gut morphology. The Committee indicated that further work
would be necessary in order to determine the nature of the changes
observed in the GI tract.
The Committee noted that there was wide variation in the results of the
lymphocyte proliferation assay that called into question the reliability
of the assay in this instance. The Committee was of the view that it would
be inappropriate to draw any conclusions on the effects of the GM potato
on immune function based on the results of this assay alone.
The Committee also noted that the GM potatoes used in these studies were
experimental lines that had not been subject to the further breeding steps
necessary to produce a stable variety.
Conclusions
The Committee fully endorsed the views of the Committee on Toxicity and
agreed that no meaningful conclusions could be drawn from the data made
available on the effect of feeding rats GM potatoes expressing the
snowdrop lectin. This was because of serious doubts about the design of
the studies and the nutritional quality of the potato-supplemented diets
that had been used. In addition some of the adverse effects seen occurred
in rats fed potatoes spiked with the GNA lectin suggesting that these did
not arise as a result of the genetic modification and could be explained
by variability in lectin levels. Furthermore alterations in gut morphology
similar to those seen in these studies are known to occur in animals fed
raw starch from conventional potatoes and it was not clear from the
information provided that the potatoes used in each of the studies were
identical in all respects except for the parameters being assessed.
Some plant lectins are known to be toxic to animals and the Committee
stressed the need to carefully assess any GM foods modified to express
lectins. If any toxicology studies were conducted as part of the safety
assessment they would need to be carefully designed and controlled.
References
1. Bourne FJ, Chesson A, Davies H and Flint H (1998). SOAEFD flexible fund
project RO 818: Audit of data produced at the Rowett Research Institute
(Date of audit: 21st August 1998.
2. Bourne FJ, Chesson A, Davies H and Flint H (1999). The Audit
CommitteeUs Response to Dr Arpad PusztaiUs Alternative Report of 22
October 1998. 16 February 1999.
3.. Ewen SWB and Pusztai A (1999). Diets containing genetically modified
(GM) potatoes expressing Galanthus nivalis (GNA) lectin are associated
with proliferation of the mucosal cells of the rat gut, unpublished
manuscript.
4. Horgan GW and Glasbey CA (1999). Statistical analysis of experiments on
genetically modified potatoes conducted at the Rowett Research Institute.
Preliminary Report. 1 March 1999. Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland.
5. Pusztai A (1998). SOAEFD Flexible Fund Project RO 818: Report of
Project Coordinator on data produced at the Rowett Research Institute
(RRI). [22 October 1998].
GM FOOD SCARES 'RISK UK LEAD IN SCIENCE'
May 19, 1999
Electronic Telegraph
Aisling Irwin, Science Correspondent
Experts reject study that triggered GM food crisis
THE Government was urged yesterday to take a proper lead in the debate on
genetically modified food and try to pull it out of a morass of "scare
stories" and "misconceptions".
MPs accused the Government of allowing its key advisory committee on
genetic modification to become understaffed and exhausted, jeopardising
the quality of advice it produces. They said that without a clear lead in
the debate and without an overhaul of the way theGovernment was advised on
controversial scientific issues, Britain risked losing its lead in one of
the important industries of the 21st century for no other reason than the
reign of "unfounded fear".
A report by the select committee on science and technology said: "The UK's
contribution to genetic research has been out of all proportion to its
size and it is well placed to capitalise on such advances," The committee
called for action after considering the evidence surrounding the
seven-month furore over GM foods. Almost no group is exonerated by the
wide-ranging investigation.
The controversy erupted last year when Dr Arpad Pusztai and his research
institute, the Rowett, in Aberdeen, claimed to journalists that
genetically modified potatoes had damaged the health of rats.
The MPs concluded that the Rowett suffered from a mixture of naive
handling of the media and "pursuing a publicity agenda, aimed at securing
research funding".
Environmental pressure groups then fuelled the furore by promoting
evidence that was not "scientifically responsible" and incorrectly
claiming that most government committee members were biased by connections
to industry.
The media, and in particular the Daily Mail and the Sunday Times, were
heavily criticised for their"journalistic hyperbole" linking GM foods with
a variety of serious diseases. Two supermarkets
which gave evidence to the inquiry - Sainsbury's and Iceland - were deemed
unhelpful to consumers by removing GM products from their shelves.
"It is hypocritical to say they are taking the products off the shelves
because the customer likes choice when, in fact, they are denying choice,"
said Dr Michael Clark, chairman of the select
committee.The committee concluded that GM food was most likely to be safe.
Dr Clark said that while moreresearch should be done "the changes that
genetic modification brings are so insignificant that there
is no reason to think that it would cause problems". But the environmental
effects of planting of GM crops required more research and the commercial
moratorium should continue. The committee urged government departments to
take more notice of their committees' advice -
which was of "high quality" - and less of outside influences.
To boost the scientific advice to government, the committee wanted to see
the merging of the two key bodies - the Advisory Committee on Releases
into the Environment and the AdvisoryCommittee on Novel Foods and
Processes. In this way all the scientific advice would come from asingle
committee. Ministers would then balance this against advice from other
committees dealingwith subjects such as ethics.
MINISTERS TO INSIST GM FOODS ARE SAFE
May 19, 1999
The Times (London)
VALERIE ELLIOTT AND NICK NUTTALL
Tests on Rats 'Prove Nothing'
THE Government is to declare genetically modifed crops safe to eat and
grow, it emerged last night.
In an attempt to calm public fears, Jack Cunningham, the Minister for the
Cabinet Office, will announce that "people's judges" will be recruited to
the main scientific advisory bodies to monitor GM developments. They
will also examine controversial advances such as human cloning.
A report by Liam Donaldson, the Government's Chief Medical Officer,
and Sir Robert May, the Chief Scientific Adviser, which has been
circulated to senior ministers, has given a robust assessment of GM foods
and declared that there is no evidence to prove that they are harmful. The
study has taken into account the views of independent scientists as well
as those working directly for the Government and on the #3 million GM
crop trials.
It judges the dangers of GM crops to be minimal and dismisses fears
about GM pollen transfer, cross-fertilisation, entry into the human food
chain, and into the human body.
Dr Cunningham has also been buoyed by the attitude of MPs and
yesterday welcomed the stance of the Commons Science and Technology
Committee which accused supermarkets of "rolling over" in the face of
hysterical media reports by withdrawing GM food from shelves.
In a separate report, the Royal Society dismissed as "seriously flawed"
the findings of Arpad Pusztai, who first sugggested that GM food was a
danger to human beings after his experiments on rats.
Dr Cunningham, chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee on
biotechnology, is now preparing a Commons statement to set out the
findings and to outline the Government's commitment to the
biotechnology industry in Britain. His stance has also been influenced by
intensive research by opinion pollsters, MORI, which shows that while
the public distrust politicians, journalists and the biochemistry industry
in giving them accurate information, they back the views of scientists,
independents and those inside the Government. One senior Whitehall
source said last night: "At last we are putting our best foot forward and
will try to kill all the hype which has been generated over GM."
Dr Cunningham will emphasise that public safety is paramount and that
ministers would not sanction production of crops and food if it posed a
threat to public health or the environment. The Cabinet enforcer gave a
hint of a tough new approach when he insisted that the report by the
Government's two most senior scientists would show no evidence to
prove that GM products were harmful.
He also dismissed attempts to draw parallels between the GM foods
debate and BSE crisis, saying: "BSE was about infectivity. There is no
infectivity in GM foods or crops."
Ministers are determined to proceed with their #3 million farm-scale
trials to show conclusively that their assessments are accurate. They will
also
try to demolish the scare stories about so-called Frankenstein foods.
Dr Cunningham's announcement to MPs was originally planned for
tomorrow, but last night there were suggestions that pressure of
parliamentary business could force its delay until next week.
The Government is anxious to conduct trials on GM sugar-beet
production and to ensure that there are no risks to human health from the
refining process of beet to sugar.
Similarly they are confident that the risks of cross-pollination of other
farmers' fields are negligible. Scientists accept that pollen can be
carried
hundreds of yards, some even a few miles. But one government scientist
said: "The question is what is the probability of that pollen reaching an
oilseed rape or maize plant in another field which are also producing
pollen. It is very remote indeed."
Tests on Rats 'Prove Nothing'
Experiments that triggered a row over GM food were so poorly designed
and carried out that no conclusions can be drawn from them, a committee
from the Royal Society concluded. The tests on GM potatoes at the
Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen were "flawed in many aspects of
design, execution and analysis", says the group, chaired by Noreen
Murray of Edinburgh University. "We found no convincing evidence of
adverse effects from GM potatoes." The research, carried out at the
Rowett by Arpad Pusztai, started panic over GM foods after he was
interviewed on television and in the press claiming that rats fed GM
potatoes suffered impaired growth, damaged organs and a weakened
immune system. He said that the public were being used as "unwitting
guinea-pigs".
MONSANTO TO MARKET GM SUGAR BEET IN U.S. BY 2000
May 19, 1999
Dow Jones
Debra Marks
Killarney, IRELAND -- Patrick O'Reilly, the business manager of Monsanto
Ireland, was cited as telling the World Sugar Farmers Council that the
company expects to market a commercial variety of genetically modified
sugar beet in the U.S. next year and the company also hopes to have
obtained approval to sell genetically modified sugar beet in France, the
U.K., Benelux, Spain, Denmark, Chile and some countries in Central Europe
by 2001-02, adding, "Although things are going well in Europe, the
approval process is slower than in the U.S. There are some delays coming
down the line."
O'Reilly added there would be 200 field trials of genetically modified
herbicide tolerant sugar beet in 1999, roughly the same amount as last
year, stating, "Technology does consistently seem to be doing a good job
in terms of
yield benefit," citing a 5-7% increase in yield with Roundup Ready,
Monsanto's sugar beet herbicide, compared with conventional varieties.
While Roundup Ready uses a single gene, the company is already testing
products that work on a number of genes, he said, for factors such as pest
and disease resilience.
PNN UPDATE
May 1999
Agrichemical and Environmental News
A monthly report on environmental and pesticide related issues
Issue No. 157
The PNN is operated by WSU's Pesticide Information Center for the
Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration. The system is
designed to distribute pesticide registration and label change information
to groups representing Washington's pesticide users. The material below
is a summary of the information distributed on the PNN in the past month.
Our office operates a web page called PICOL (Pesticide Information Center
On-Line). This provides a label database, status on registrations and
other related information. PICOL can be accessed on URL
http://picol.cahe.wsu.edu or call our office, (509) 372-7492, for more
information.
Federal Issues
Label Changes
Gowan has revised the label for its insecticide Imidan 70W. The following
is a summary of the changes:
Apple: Added mealybug and rosy chafer to the pest list; deleted green
apple aphid, rosy apple aphid from pest list.
Apricot: Added rose chafer to pest list.
Cherry: Added directions for the control of syneta beetle.
Grape: Added directions for the control of grape mealybug and vine
mealybug.
Nectarine, Peaches, Plum and Prunes: Added rose chafer and San Jose scale
to the pest list.
Plums and Prunes: Added Japanese beetle to the pest list
Pear: Added apple maggot, Japanese beetle, mealybug, and rose chafer to
the pest list; deleted pear psylla from the pest list.
Added use directions for "Walnuts, Filberts, and Other Nuts" for the
control of codling moth, navel orangeworm, and walnut husk fly.
Removed language stating that Imidan 70W "may suppress European red and
twospotted spider mites" from apple, apricot, cherry,
peaches, pear, plum, prune, and nectarines use directions.
Alfalfa: Added alfalfa plant bug, fleahopper, grasshopper, and lygus bugs
to pest list; deleted adult weevil, alfalfa blotch leafminer, and
meadow spittlebug from pest list; changed pea aphid application grazing
and cutting restrictions 10 days to 7 days; and changed dilution
directions for aerial applications.
Deciduous Shade, Ornamental, and Woody Evergreens: Added leafhopper,
magnolia leafminer, and mealybug to the pest list.
Christmas Tree Plantation: Added gypsy moth to the pest list; deleted
scale species.
Gowan has issued a revision to the label for its insecticide Prokil
Cryolite 96. The changes are as follows:
Deleted the following crops from the label: Lettuce, tomato, cabbage, and
collard.
Added use directions for Brussels sprouts and potatoes.
Brussels sprouts, Broccoli and Cauliflower: Added Diabrotica beetle to the
pest list; deleted corn earworm.
Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Winter Squash: Added cabbage looper, Diabrotica
beetle, flea beetle, and Colorado potato beetle to the pest list.
Grape: Deleted the California Only use restriction; added grape berry
moth, early season grape leaffolder, grapeleaf skeletonizer, and
omnivorous leafroller to the pest list.
Peppers: Added armyworm, blister beetle, cabbage looper, flea beetle,
hornworm, Colorado potato beetle to the pest list.
Summer Squash: Added use directions for controlling Diabrotica beetle,
flea beetle, melonworm, pickleworm, and Colorado potato beetle.
Gowan has revised the label for its insecticide Dimethoate 4. The label
changes include adding use directions for various ornamentals including
some bulbs, flowers, shrubs, trees, and roses.
Gowan has revised the label for its fungicide Botran 75W. The label
changes include:
Adding use directions for sweet potatoes and conifers/Christmas trees
(including nursery, greenhouse, container and bare root stock).
For the following crops the application rate is now given as a range
rather than a single dosage: apricot, grape, peach, nectarine, plum,
prune, and cherry.
Manufacturers Use Deletions
In the March 10 Federal Register, EPA announced that it had received a
request from AgrEvo to voluntarily cancel ornamental and Christmas tree
use for its product Finale VM Herbicide. Unless this request is withdrawn,
these use deletions will become effective September 7, 1999. Anyone
wishing to retain these uses should submit their comments to AgrEvo.
Manufacturers Product Cancellations
The purpose of this notification is to clarify information distributed
February 4 via PNN Notification 1999-35. This notification discussed
Valent's
request to EPA to voluntarily cancel the registration for its insecticide
Orthene Turf, Tree, & Ornamental Spray WSP. Representatives from Valent
have contacted our office and provided the following additional
information.
In early 1998, EPA ruled that pesticide registrants were no longer
required to separately register water soluble bag/packet formulations; a
single
product registration would suffice. The rationale for this is similar to
one that allows a single registration to cover a pesticide packaged in
several
different size containers. EPA is now also allowing for one registration
to cover both product sold as loose powder or granules and product sold as
water soluble bags or packets. Prior to this ruling, Valent had been
maintaining two registrations: EPA Registration # 59639-88 for the Orthene
Turf, Tree, and Ornamental Spray WSP and 59639-26 for Orthene Turf, Tree,
and Ornamental Spray. Although Valent is in the process of
canceling the separate registration for the WSP formulation, it will
continue to manufacture both the loose product and the water soluble
packets and
will register both as EPA # 59639-26: Orthene Turf, Tree, and Ornamental
Spray.
In the March 24 Federal Register, EPA announced that it had received a
request from Bayer to cancel the registration for its product Oftanol 5%
Granular. This product is labeled for use on the following PNN-related
sites: nursery, turf, and ornamental. Unless this request is withdrawn
within 180 days of the Federal Register notification, EPA will issue
orders canceling this registration. Anyone interested in retaining this
registration should contact Bayer.
Section 18 Specific Exemptions
EPA has issued a Section 18 specific exemption for the use of Aliette WDG
on succulent peas to control downy mildew. The Section 18 allows for
the use of Aliette WDG as a seed treatment and provides for planting
20,000 acres in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Lewis, Cowlitz,
Clark, and Grays Harbor counties with treated seed. This exemption expires
April 30, 1999.
EPA has issued a Section 18 specific exemption for the use of Orbit 3.6EC
to control mummy berry disease in highbush blueberries. This
exemption allows for use on 1,600 acres, a maximum of 3 applications per
growing season, and a 30-day PHI. This exemption expires June 10,
1999.
EPA has issued a Section 18 specific exemption for the use of Starane EC
to control volunteer potatoes in both field corn and sweet corn. This
exemption allows for a single application to field corn and for two
applications to sweet corn. A 30-day PHI and 120-day plant-back interval
are
specified. This exemption provides for use on 50,000 acres of field corn
and 65,000 acres of sweet corn in Adams, Benton, Franklin, Grant,
Kittitas, Lincoln, Skagit, Spokane, Walla Walla, Whatcom, and Yakima
counties and expires August 1, 1999.
EPA has issued a specific exemption for the use of Gustafson's LSP
Flowable Fungicide as a seed treatment for lentils to control Ascochyta
blight.
This exemption, for treatment of enough seed to plant 55,000 acres in
Washington, expires June 1, 1999.
On March 5 EPA issued a Section 18 specific exemption for the use of
either Esteem 0.86EC or Knack IGR to control pear psylla on pears. This
exemption allows for:
a single application,
use on 24,000 acres,
a 45-day PHI, and
use until May 21,1999.
On March 17 EPA issued a Section 18 specific exemption for the use of
Rally 40W to control powdery mildew on mint. This exemption allows for
3 applications per growing season, a 48-hour REI, a 30-day PHI, and for
use on a maximum 11,225 acres in Adams, Benton, Clark, Franklin,
Grant, Kittitas, Lincoln, and Yakima counties. Use under this exemption
expires December 31, 1999.
On March 22 EPA amended the Section 18 (file symbol 99-WA-03) previously
issued for the use of Goal 2XL on strawberries. The changes are as
follows:
Item 5: The use period in the original exemption was incorrectly listed as
12/15/98 to 4/15/98. In December EPA corrected this date to
4/15/99. This amendment extends the use period to 8/15/99.
Item 8: This section now states that a 0.05 ppm time-limited tolerance for
oxyfluorfen on strawberries that was to expire 4/25/99 will be
extended to 4/15/01.
Item 11: Report results for this exemption were originally due to EPA by
10/15/99. The amendment changes the report due date to 3/15/00.
Item 12: The original 4/15/99 expiration date has been changed to 8/15/99.
On March 25 EPA issued a specific exemption (file symbol 99-WA-18) for the
use of Valent's Danitol 2.4EC to control cane borer and stem girdler
on currants. The exemption allows for the use of 10.67 ounces per acre, 3
applications per season, and a 21 day PHI. This exemption expires June
15, 1999.
Supplemental Labels and Use Recommendations
Gowan has issued 2ee use recommendations for three of its Imidan
formulations: Imidan 70W, 70WP, and 70WSP. The recommendations all
carry use directions for controlling elm leaf beetle, birch leafminer, and
obliquebanded leafroller in shade and ornamental trees.
Bayer has issued supplemental labels for two of its fungicides. The labels
are:
Folicur 3.6F: For use on grasses grown for seed to control rusts and
powdery mildew.
Elite 45DF: For use on grapes to control black rot and powdery mildew.
Du Pont has issued a supplemental label for its product Benlate Fungicide.
This label allows for use of Benlate to control Swiss needle cast disease
in Douglas fir plantations.
Miscellaneous Regulatory Information
WSU's Pesticide Information Center has recently undertaken a review of the
RED's put forth by EPA since 1997. The information below is a
summary of risk mitigation decisions contained in the RED that appear to
be of interest to Washington's agricultural community.
METHOMYL (9/98): To lessen ecological and potential water risks, EPA is
requiring:
A label statement for potential ground water contamination.
A reduction of the single maximum per acre application rate on peaches and
commercial sod farms from 1.8 pounds to 0.9 pounds.
No methomyl crop use will exceed a single applicaiton rate of 0.9 pounds
per acre.
Buffer zones of 25 feet (ground application) and 100 feet (aerial
application) for applications near water bodies and a buffer zone of 450
feet for aquatic areas when ultra low volume application is made.
Reduced maximum seasonal usage on the eight crops for which the most
methomyl is sold. The data below is given as the present seasonal
usage rate in pounds per acre followed by the new season rate and the
percent reduction.
Broccoli (7.2/6.3/12.5)
Cabbage (9.0/7.2/20)
Cauliflower (9.0/7.2/20)
Celery (9.0/7.2/20)
Chinese Cabbage (8.1/7.2/11.1)
Sweet Corn (7.2/6.3/12.5)
Head Lettuce (9.0/7.2/20)
Tomato (7.2/6.3/12.5)
WSU's Pesticide Information Center has recently undertaken a review of the
RED's put forth by EPA since 1997. The information below is a
summary of risk mitigation decisions contained in the RED that appear to
be of interest to Washington's agricultural community.
THIODICARB (9/98): To lessen ecological and potential water risks, EPA is
requiring:
Reclassification of thidicarb products as RUP's. In Washington these are
Rhone Poulenc's Larvin products.
Reducing the maximum number of applications on cole crops from 6 to 4 per
season , at the maximum rate of 1.0 pound a.i. per acre.
Imposing the following buffer zones: 25 feet (ground application) and 100
feet (aerial application) for applications near water bodies and
450 feet for aquatic areas when ultra low volume applications are made.
State Issues
New Registrations
WSDA has registered two Griffin mancozeb fungicides. These are Manzate
75DF and Manzate 80WP. Both products are labeled for use on the
following crops: apple, asparagus, barley, cantaloupe, corn, corn seed
crop, crabapple, cranberry, cucumber, dry bulb onion, fennel, field corn,
field corn seed crop, flax, grape, honeydew, lawn, melon, oat, pear,
popcorn, potato, quince, rye, safflower, sorghum, squash, sugarbeet,
summer squash, sweet corn, tomato, triticale, turf, watermelon, and wheat.
WSDA has registered Amvac's K-Pam 540 soil fumigant. This product is
labeled for use on cropland.
WSDA has registered two Mycotech products for use. Both contain Beauveria
Bassiana GHA as their active ingredient. The list of usage sites for
each is:
Botanigard 22WP: apple, apricot, artichoke, asparagus, bean, beet,
blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, broccoli, bulb, Brussels sprout,
cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cherry, chickpea, Chinese broccoli,
Chinese cabbage, collard, crabapple, cranberry, cucumber,
currant, dandelion, deciduous/shade tree, dewberry, dill, eggplant,
elderberry, endive, evergreen tree, fennel, flower, garlic, ginseng,
gooseberry, grape, horseradish, kale, kiwifruits, kohlrabi, leek, lentil,
lettuce, loganberry, mint, melon, mustard, nectarine, okra,
olallieberry, onion, ornamental, ornamental ground cover, ornamental tree,
parsley, parsnip, pea, peach, pear, pepper, pimento, plum,
potato, prune, pumpkin, quince, radish, rape, raspberry, rhubarb, rose,
rosemary, rutabaga, salsify, shallot, shrub, soybean, spinach,
strawberry, sugarbeet, squash, sweet potato, Swiss chard, tomato,
tomatillo, turnip, vine, watermelon, yam, and youngberry.
Mycotrol 22WP: alfalfa, apple, apricot, artichoke, asparagus, barley,
bean, beet, blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, broccoli, Brussels
sprout, buckwheat, cabbage, canola, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cherry,
chestnut, chickpea, Chinese broccoli, Chinese cabbage, clover,
collard, conifer, corn, corn seed crop, crabapple, cranberry, cucumber,
currant, dandelion, dewberry, eggplant, elderberry, endive,
fennel, field corn, filbert, flax, forest, garlic, gooseberry, grape,
grass hay, hop, horseradish, kale, kiwifruits, kohlrabi, leek, lentil,
lettuce, loganberry, millet, melon, mustard, nectarine, oat, okra,
olallieberry, onion, ornamental tree, parsley, parsnip, pea, peach, pear,
pepper, plum, popcorn, potato, prune, pumpkin, quince, radish, rape,
raspberry, rhubarb, rutabaga, rye, safflower, salsify, shallot,
shrub, silage, sorghum, soybean, spinach, sugarbeet, squash, sunflower,
sweet corn, sweet potato, Swiss chard, tomato, triticale, turnip,
walnut, watermelon, wheat, yam, and youngberry.
WSDA had registered Micro Flo's fungicide Captan 50 Wettable Powder. This
product is labeled for use on the following PNN-related sites: apple,
apple post harvest, apricot, blueberry, bulb, cherry, cherry post harvest,
flower, greenhouse, nectarine, peach, pear post harvest, plum, prune,
rose, shrub, and strawberry.
WSDA has registered two Micro Flo chlorpyrifos formulations. The first,
Chlopyrifos 4E-Wheat, is specifically for use on wheat while second,
Chlopyrifos 4E AG, is labeled for use on the following PNN-related sites:
alfalfa, apple, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage,
cauliflower, cherry, Chinese cabbage, Christmas tree plantation, collard,
conifer nursery, corn, corn seed crop, cranberry, dry bulb onion, field
corn, filbert, grape, kale, kohlrabi, mint, nectarine, non-bearing peach,
peach, pear, plum, popcorn, prune, radish, rutabaga, sorghum, soybean,
strawberry, sugarbeet, sunflower, sweet corn, sweet potato, turnip, and
walnut.
WSDA has registered five Tenkoz herbicides. The products, their active
ingredients, and labeled usage sites are listed below:
Tenkoz Trifluralin 4 HFP (trifluralin): alfalfa, apricot, asparagus,
barley, bean, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, canola, carrot,
cauliflower, celery, collard, cucurbit, dry bulb onion, field corn, flax,
grape, hop, kale, bearing and nonbearing kiwi, mustard, nectarine,
non-bearing apricot, non-bearing grape, non-bearing nectarine, non-bearing
peach, non-bearing plum, non-bearing prune, non-bearing
walnut, okra, pea, peach, pepper, plum, potato, prune, radish, safflower,
sorghum, soybean, sugarbeet, sunflower, tomato, tree pulp
production, turnip, walnut, and wheat.
Tenkoz Buccaneer Herbicide (glyphosate): alfalfa, apple, apricot,
asparagus, barley, bean, beet, blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry,
broccoli, Brussels sprout, buckwheat, cabbage, canal, cantaloupe, carrot,
cauliflower, celery, cherry, chestnut, Chinese cabbage,
Christmas tree plantation, collard, conservation reserve program, corn,
cranberry, cucumber, currant, dewberry, ditch bank, eggplant,
elderberry, endive, fallow land, farm building area around, fencerow,
filbert, forest conifer release/site preparation, garlic, golf course,
gooseberry, grape, grass seed crop, greenhouse, honeydew, horseradish,
industrial site, Jerusalem artichoke, kale, kiwifruits, kohlrabi,
leek, lentil, lettuce, loganberry, melon, millet, muskmelon, mustard,
nectarine, noncrop non-agricultural area, oat, okra, olallieberry,
onion, ornamental, parsley, parsnip, pasture, pea, peach, pear, pepper,
plum, potato, prune, pumpkin, quince, radish, railroad
right-of-way, rape, raspberry, recreation area, rhubarb, right-of-way,
roadside right-of-way, rutabaga, rye, school outdoor, shallot,
sorghum, soybean, spinach, summer squash, sugarbeet, Swiss chard, tomato,
tomatillo, triticale, turf, turnip, utility right-of-way, walnut,
watercress, watermelon, wheat, winter squash, and yam.
Tenkoz Lo-Vol 4 Solventless Herbicide (2,4-D ethylhexyl ester): aquatic
site, barley, corn, ditch bank, fallow land, fencerow, forest
conifer release/site preparation, grass seed crop, industrial site,
noncrop non-agriculture, oat, pasture, rangeland, roadside right-of-way,
rye, sorghum, soybean, turf, and wheat.
Tenkoz Amine 4 (2,4-D dimethylamine): barley, corn, ditch bank, fallow
land, fencerow, grass seed crop, impounded water, industrial
site, millet, oat, pasture, rangeland, roadside right-of-way, rye,
sorghum, turf, orchard floor, golf course, recreation area, soybean, CRP
lands, rights-of-way, tree for pulp production, aquatic site, stream,
impounded water, tidal marsh, canal, and wheat.
Tenkoz 638 Herbicide (2,4-D, 2,4-D butoxyethyl ester): barley,
conservation reserve program, ditch bank, fallow land, fencerow, field
corn, golf course, grass seed crop, noncrop non-agricultural area,
pasture, popcorn, railroad right-of-way, rangeland, roadside
right-of-way, sorghum, soybean, turf, wasteland, and wheat.
WSDA has registered Gowan's insecticide Imidan 70WP. This product is
labeled for use on the following crops: alfalfa, apple, apricot, cherry,
chestnut, Christmas tree plantation, deciduous/ shade tree, evergreen
tree, filbert, grape, nectarine, ornamental tree, pea, peach, pear, plum,
potato,
prune, and walnut.
WSDA has registered six Griffin products for use. The products, their
active ingredients, and labeled usage sites are listed below.
Kocide 2000 T/N/O (copper hydroxide): bulb, conifer nursery,
deciduous/shade tree, flower, greenhouse nursery, greenhouse ornamental,
nursery, ornamental, ornamental tree, turf, and vine.
Early Harvest TST Talc Seed Treatment (gibberilic acid, cytokinin): corn,
dry bean, sorghum, soybean, and wheat.
Atrapa VCP (malathion): ditch bank, grass, grass hay, noncrop agricultural
area, roadside right-of-way, and wasteland.
Atrapa ULV (malathion): alfalfa, barley, clover, corn, ditch bank, dry
bean, field corn, grass, grass hay, green bean, kidney bean, lima
bean, navy bean, noncrop agricultural area, oat, popcorn, roadside
right-of-way, rye, sweet corn, wasteland, and wheat.
Karmax DF Herbicide (diuron): alfalfa, apple, asparagus, barley,
blueberry, caneberries, ditch bank, farm building area around, field corn,
gooseberry, grape, grass seed crop, industrial site, mint, noncrop
non-specific, oat, peach, pear, railroad right-of-way, red clover, utility
right-of-way, and wheat.
Lorox DF Herbicide (linuron): asparagus, celery, fencerow, field corn,
noncrop agricultural area, parsnip, potato, roadside right-of-way,
sorghum, soybean, and sweet corn.
WSDA has registered Gowan's insecticide/miticide Supracide 25WP. This
product is registered for use on the following PNN-related sites: apple,
apricot, artichoke, cherry, nectarine, peach, oear, plum, prune,
safflower, and walnut.
WSDA has registered Gustafson's Allegiance Seed Treatment Fungicide. This
product is labeled for use as a seed treatment to control seed rot and
damping-off diseases on the following crops: alfalfa, barley, bean, beet,
broccoli, buckwheat, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chickpea, clover, corn,
cowpea, cucumber, cucurbit, dill, eggplant, field corn, grass hay, green
bean, leafy vegetable, lentil, lima bean, millet, mustard, navy bean, oat,
okra, onion, pea, pepper, popcorn, potato, radish, rutabaga, rye, salsify,
silage, sorghum, soybean, spinach, sugarbeet, sunflower, sweet corn,
sweet potato, tomato, triticale, turf, turnip, vetch, wheat, kale,
collard, Chinese broccoli, Chinese mustard, Chinese cabbage, Brussels
sprouts,
tomatillo, dandelion, burdock, celery, parsnip, and yam. In
addition,Gustafson has issued a 2ee use recommendation that provides
directions for
using Allegiance FL at reduced rates with other fungicides as a seed
treatment for peas for Pythium damping-off control.
Section 18 Crisis Exemptions
WSDA has issued a Section 18 crisis exemption for the use of Roundup Ultra
on glyphosate-tolerant canola. This exemption allows for two
applications per season, use on 15,000 acres, and for use until May 31,
1999.
WSDA has issued a Section 18 crisis exemption for the use of Axiom DF on
wheat to control annual ryegrass. The exemption allows for a single
application and for use on 50,000 acres in Asotin, Columbia, Garfield,
Spokane, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties. Use under this exemption
expires May 31, 1999.
On March 25 WSDA issued a crisis exemption for the use of Uniroyal's
Dimilin 25W to control pear psylla on pears. This exemption allows for
one application per growing season at a rate of 2.5 to 3 pounds per acre
and it expires on May 1, 1999.
Section 24c Registrations
WSDA has issued an SLN, WA-990009, to Novartis for the use of its Maxim-MZ
Potato Seed Protectant to suppress Fusarium dry rot seed decay,
stem canker, tuber black scurf, and silver scurf on seed potatoes. This
SLN expires 12/31/04.
On February 25 WSDA issued an SLN, WA-990006, to Zeneca for the use of its
Warrior T Insecticide to control lygus bugs in carrot, dill,
parsley, and parsnip seed crops. This SLN expires 12/31/03.
On February 26 WSDA issued an SLN, WA-990010, to Gowan for the use of its
insecticide Savey 50WP to control twospotted spider mites on
hops. This SLN expires 12/31/04.
On March 2 WSDA issued and SLN, WA-990011, to Gustafson for the use of
Top-MZ-CZ to control dry rot, black scurf, and silver scurf on cut
potato seed pieces. (Tops MZ-CZ is a mixture of Tops MZ and Curzate 60DF.)
This SLN expires 12/31/04.
On March 3 WSDA issued an SLN, WA-990013, to Novartis for the use of its
fungicide Mertect LSP on pea seed intended for export. This is a
"me-too" registration similar to WA-900029 previously issued to Gustafson
for the use of its LSP Flowable Fungicide. This SLN expires
12/31/04.
On March 3 WSDA issued an SLN, WA-990012, to Novartis for the use of its
fungicide Mertect LSP as a seed treatment for chickpeas. This is a
"me-too" registration similar to WA-900009 previously issued to Gustafson
for the use of its LSP Flowable Fungicide. This SLN expires
12/31/04.
On March 16 WSDA issued SLN WA-990014 to Novartis for the use of their
fungicide Dividend XL as a seed treatment on barley. This SLN is
for the control of barley stripe, general seed rots, Fusarium seed scab,
covered smut, Phythium damping-off, and the partial control of take-all,
common root rot, Fusarium root rot, Fusarium crown rot, and Rhizoctonia
root rot. This SLN expires 12/31/04. Note that this SLN is unique in
that it is a registration for a domestic food/feed use and is based on an
import tolerance.
Section 24c Cancellations
On February 17 WSDA issued a letter canceling SLN WA-890009. This SLN had
previously been issued to Entek for the use of its Enquik
Herbicide for primocane suppression and fruit spur removal in caneberries.
The SLN is being cancelled at the request of the manufacturer because
Enquik has been discontinued.
On February 8 WSDA issued a letter canceling two SLN's previously issued
for the use of Uniroyal's Ded-Weed SULV-Amine. SLN WA-790065
covered use on pasture, rangeland, fence rows, utility rights-of-way,
ditch banks, field borders, and fallow land while WA-810002 provided for
use on barley, rye, and wheat. The SLN's are being cancelled because
Uniroyal has sold this product to Platte and no more of the
Uniroyal-labeled
Ded-Weed SULV-amine remains in the channels of trade.
Section 24c Revisions
On March 10 WSDA issued a revision to SLN WA-980005. This SLN had
previously been issued to Platte for the use of its Prometryne 4L for
weed control on dill. The revision clarifies ground use directions, adds a
chemigation prohibition statement, clarifies a statement regarding
avoidance of plant injury, and changes the expiration date to 12/31/03.
On March 1 WSDA issued a revision to SLN WA-980022. This SLN had
previously been issued to JMS Flower Farms for the use of its JMS
Stylet Oil to control powdery mildew on hops. The revision is limited to
changing the expiration date to 12/31/04.
On March 16 WSDA issued a revision to SLN WA-920024. This SLN had
previously been issued to DuPont for the use of Sinbar Herbicide for
weed control in hybrid poplar plantations. The revision includes changes
to the tank mix directions and the addition of a 12/31/04 expiration date.
On March 22 WSDA issued a revision to SLN WA-960002. This SLN had
previously been issued to Novartis for the use of its herbicide Beacon
for weed control in Kentucky bluegrass seed crops. The label previously
specified "spring planted seeding use." This revision expands the allowed
label usage to include use on established stands of Kentucky bluegrass
seed crops. This SLN expires 12/31/04.
On March 24 WSDA issued a revision of SLN WA-980004. This SLN had
previously been issued to Bayer for the use of its Di-Syston 15%
Granular Systemic Insecticide to control clover head aphid and mites on
clover grown for seed. The revision changes the expiration date to
12/31/03.
EMAMECTIN BENZOATE; PESTICIDE TOLERANCE
May 19, 1999
Federal Register: (Volume 64, Number 96)
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 27192-27200]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my99-9]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[OPP-300856; FRL-6079-7]
RIN 2070-AB78
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This regulation establishes a tolerance for combined residues
of the insecticide emamectin benzoate, 4'-epi-methylamino- 4'-
deoxyavermectin B1 benzoate (a mixture of a minimum of 90%
4'-epi-methylamino-4'- deoxyavermectin B1a and a maximum of 10%
4'-epi-methlyamino-4'deoxyavermectin B1b benzoate) and its
metabolites 8,9 isomer of the B1a and B1b
component of the parent insecticide (8,9 ZMA); 4'-deoxy-4'-epi-amino-
averm ectin B1 (AB1a); 4'deoxy-4'-epi-(N-formyl-N-
methyl)amino-avermectin (MFB1a); and
4'-deoxy-4'-epi-(N-formyl)amino-avermectin B1(FAB1a)
(CAS No. 137512-74-4) in or on Brassica, head & stem subgroup (5-A), head
lettuce and celery. Novartis Crop Protection, Inc. requested this
tolerance under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by
the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996.
DATES: This regulation is effective May 19, 1999. Objections and requests
for hearings must be received by EPA on or before July 19, 1999.
INTENT TO SUSPEND CERTAIN PESTICIDE REGISTRATIONS
May 19, 1999
Federal Register: (Volume 64, Number 96)
[Notices]
[Page 27254-27258]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my99-55]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-60054; FRL-6072-8]
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of issuance of notices of intent to suspend.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This Notice, pursuant to section 6(f)(2) of the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. 136 et
seq., announces that EPA has issued Notices of Intent to Suspend
pursuant to sections 3)(2)(B) and 4 of FIFRA. The Notices were issued
following issuance of Section 4 Reregistration Requirements Notices by
the Agency and the failure of registrants subject to the Section 4
Reregistration Requirements Notices to take appropriate steps to secure
the data required to be submitted to the Agency. This Notice includes
the text of a Notice of Intent to Suspend, absent specific chemical,
product, or factual information. Table A of this Notice further
identifies the registrants to whom the Notices of Intent to Suspend
were issued, the date each Notice of Intent to Suspend was issued, the
active ingredient(s) involved, and the EPA registration numbers and
names of the registered product(s) which are affected by the Notices of
Intent to Suspend. Moreover, Table B of this Notice identifies the
basis upon which the Notices of Intent to Suspend were issued. Finally,
matters pertaining to the timing of requests for hearing are specified
in the Notices of Intent to Suspend and are governed by the deadlines
specified in section 3)(2)(B). As required by section 6(f)(2), the
Notices of Intent to Suspend were sent by certified mail, return
receipt
[[Page 27255]]
requested, to each affected registrant at its address of record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harold Day, Office of Compliance
(2225A), Agriculture and Ecosystem Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, (202) 564-4133.
NOTICE OF FEDERAL INVENTION AVAILABLE FOR LICENSING AND INTENT TO GRANT
EXCLUSIVE LICENSE
May 19, 1999
Federal Register: (Volume 64, Number 96)
[Notices]
[Page 27232]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my99-23]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability and intent.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a Federally owned invention U.S.
Patent Application Serial No. 09/247,219 filed on February 10, 1999,
entitled ``Production of High Protein Concentrates'' is available for
licensing and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research
Service, intends to grant to EnerGenetics International, Inc., of Nauvoo,
Illinois, an exclusive license to S.N. 09/247,219.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 17, 1999.
RHIZOBIUM INOCULANTS; PROPOSED EXEMPTION FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF A
TOLERANCE
May 19, 1999
Federal Register: (Volume 64, Number 96)
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 27223-27226]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my99-19]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 180
[OPP-300838; FRL-6074-3]
RIN 2070-AC18
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: EPA proposes to establish an exemption from the requirement of
tolerances for residues of Rhizobium inoculants (pure strains of Rhizobium
spp. bacteria eg. Sinorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium & Rhizobium) when used as
inert ingredients in pesticide formulations applied to all leguminous food
commodities. This would not include strains expressing rhizobitoxine or
strains deliberately altered to expand the range of antibiotic resistance.
EPA is proposing this regulation on its own initiative.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted to EPA on or before July 19,
1999.
NOTICE OF FILING OF PESTICIDE PETITIONS
May 19, 1999
Federal Register: (Volume 64, Number 96)
[Notices]
[Page 27262-27266]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my99-58]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[PF-873; FRL-6079-8]
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the initial filing of pesticide petitions
proposing the establishment of regulations for residues of certain
pesticide chemicals in or on various food commodities.
NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF REQUESTS FOR AMENDMENTS TO DELETE USES IN CERTAIN
PESTICIDE REGISTRATIONS
May 19, 1999
Federal Register: (Volume 64, Number 96)
[Notices]
[Page 27260-27262]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my99-57]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-34184; FRL 6073-8]
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 6(f)(1) of the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended, EPA is issuing a
notice of receipt of request for amendment by registrants to delete uses
in certain pesticide registrations.
DATES: Unless a request is withdrawn, the Agency will approve these use
deletions and the deletions will become effective on June 18, 1999.
ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDE: AZINPHOS-METHYL; AVAILABILITY OF REVISED RISK
ASSESSMENTS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON RISK MANAGEMENT
May 19, 1999
Federal Register: (Volume 64, Number 96)
[Notices]
[Page 27258-27260]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19my99-56]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-34131C; FRL-6082-3]
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notices announces the availability of the revised risk
assessments and related documents for one organophosphate pesticide,
azinphos-methyl. In addition, this notice starts a 60-day public
participation period during which the public is encouraged to submit risk
management ideas or proposals. These actions are in response to a joint
initiative between EPA and the Department of Agriculture to increase
transparency in the tolerance reassessment process for organophosphate
pesticides.
DATES: Comments, identified by docket control number OPP-34131C, must be
received by EPA on or before July 19, 1999.
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For more information about the Agnet research program, please contact:
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dept. of plant agriculture
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ont.
N1G 2W1
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