The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issue a July 22nd document titled:
Memorandum Supporting Proposed Decision to Approve Registration for the Uses of Dicamba on Dicamba-Tolerant Cotton and Dicamba-Tolerant Soybean (“Memorandum”).
The Memorandum was approved by EPA Director, Office of Pesticide Programs, Ed Messina, Esq., Director.
The Memorandum contains EPA’s rationale for the proposed decision to register under Section 3(c)(5) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”). The registration applies to three end use dicamba products for weed control in dicamba tolerant (“DT”) cotton and DT soybean.
Unconditional registrations under FIFRA are proposed to be issued for the following products for use of DT cotton and DT soybean:
- Engenia Herbicide (EPA File Symbol 7969-LNT)
- Tavium Plus VaporGrip Technology (EPA File Symbol 100-RTLG)
- KHNP0090 Herbicide (EPA File Symbol 264-REUR)
The EPA Memorandum describes dicamba as a:
…a systemic benzoic acid herbicide that is used for selective control of emerged broadleaf weeds in a variety of food and feed crops and in non-agricultural settings.
The agency further notes that the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) classifies dicamba as a Group 4 synthetic auxin type herbicide.
The Memorandum acknowledges litigation involving registration of certain dicamba products in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Cout (Arizona).
The components of the Memorandum include:
- CHEMICAL INFORMATION and BACKGROUND
- REQUESTED ACTION and USE PROFILE
- EVALUATION
- Assessment of Risks to Human Health
- Assessment of Environmental and Ecological Risks
- PUBLIC COMMENTS
- PROPOSED REGULATORY DECISION
- Rationale and Risk Mitigation
- Endangered Species Assessment
- Proposed Label Requirements
- Supporting Documents
A copy of the Memorandum can be downloaded here.
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