ARA Signs Letter to USDA and EPA Regarding Ruling on Chlorpyrifos
Aug 23 2018
ARA signs a letter to Secretary Perdue of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Acting Administrator Wheeler of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with concerns about the recent decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordering EPA to revoke tolerances and registrations for chlorpyrifos. This decision is unprecedented; no court has previously ordered EPA both to cancel uses and revoke tolerances for a pesticide. It significance goes beyond just chlorpyrifos and threatens the established regulatory process for all crop protection tools. Chlorpyrifos is used on 50 crops in 45 states and has played a key role in pest management efforts in the U.S. and worldwide for over 50 years. Pesticides such as chlorpyrifos provide critical risk management tools to farmers and others by helping improve food production, protect health and safety, and ensure a vital and productive supply of food and fiber to our nation and world markets.