EPA Bans Chlorpyrifos Use Following Years of Petitioning, Denial

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Chlorpyrifos Ban Overview: 

• Who: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a ban on using chlorpyrifos, a toxic pesticide, on food. 
• Why: The EPA determined the pesticide did not meet legally required safety standards. 
• Where: The ban on chlorpyrifos is nationwide.

The US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a ban on chlorpyrifos on Aug. 18. The now-banned pesticide is used on a variety of crops such as soybeans, fruits, nuts, cauliflower, and broccoli. 

Green groups first petitioned the EPA to ban chlorpyrifos 14 years ago. EPA Administrator Michael Regan blamed the Trump administration for recent delays in banning the toxic chemical. 

Chlorpyrifos Ban Overdue, Says Agency

“Today EPA is taking an overdue step to protect public health. Ending the use of chlorpyrifos on food will help to ensure children, farmworkers, and all people are protected from the potentially dangerous consequences of this pesticide,” said Regan in a statement. “After the delays and denials of the prior administration, EPA will follow the science and put health and safety first.”

The Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) first petitioned the FDA in 2007 to revoke tolerances set by the Federal Food, Durg, and Cosmetic Act for the use of chlorpyrifos on food.

The EPA took years to study the issue before proposing to revoke all tolerances in 2015. The Trump administration, however, denied the petition in 2017. 

Exposure to chlorpyrifos beyond the previously recommended levels has been linked to autoimmune disorders, neurological conditions, and developmental disorders. 

PANNA and the NRDC continued to petition for a chlorpyrifos ban with the Ninth Circuit over the years, and were joined by farmworkers associations following the Trump administration’s decision. In April, a split Ninth Circuit panel ordered the EPA to grant the petition and issue a final rule on either to modify tolerances or revoke them entirely. 

The EPA ultimately determined that the “current aggregate exposures from use of chlorpyrifos do not meet the legally required safety standard that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from such exposures.”

“While farmers have historically relied on chlorpyrifos, its use has been in decline due to restrictions at the state level and reduced production,” the EPA said. “Additionally, some alternatives have been registered in recent years for most crops. There are also other chemistries and insect growth regulators available for certain target pests. EPA is committed to reviewing replacements and alternatives to chlorpyrifos.”

Have you experienced adverse effects from eating food treated with chlorpyrifos? Let us know in the comments!

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