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EPA will decide by September 30 on regulations over pesticide-treated seeds
The Environmental Protection Agency says it will decide by the end of September on its regulatory oversight of pesticide-treated seeds.
Kyle Kunkler is the director of government affairs with the American Soybean Association. “It would be very unfortunate and a travesty both for agriculture and the environment if EPA decides to grant the petition. We think it wouldn’t be consistent with the law either.”
He says pesticide-treated seeds fall under the Treated Article Exemption in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
Earlier this week, EPA issued a consent decree for a lawsuit filed by the Center for Food Safety and the Pesticide Action Network North America. The agreement says the agency will decide by September 30 if it will draft regulations or dismiss the groups’ requests.
He tells Brownfield the ruling could limit a tool that’s used to protect soil health and the environment. “For growers to make very targeted, limited applications of active ingredient in a way that one – has really, well documented results of protecting crops. And, as I mentioned, it would be a conservation practice insult as well.”
The two groups have sued EPA because the agency failed to respond to a petition, that was filed in 2017. They say continued use of pesticide-treated seeds would allow irreparable environmental harm.
