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EPA Conditionally Registers New Bt Cotton Product
Release Date: 10/07/2004
Contact Information:
Contact: Enesta P. Jones 202-564-7873 / jones.enesta@epa.gov
(10/07/04) EPA has conditionally approved a new Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) plant-incorporated protectant in cotton (Wide strikeŽ) for use until Sept. 30, 2009. Wide strikeŽ cotton is expected to have environmental and public health benefits by reducing the use of conventional chemical insecticides that may be applied to cotton several times per season. Wide strikeŽ also has the potential to extend the useful life of existing plant-incorporated protectants and provide additional benefits for insect resistance management. EPA granted this conditional registration and approved a tolerance exemption after reviewing the results of experimental trials, analyzing numerous scientific studies looking at both human health and environmental impacts, consulting with the Scientific Advisory Panel and reviewing public comments. Following this thorough registration review process, EPA determined that granting a conditional registration for this use would not pose unreasonable risks to human health, nontarget organisms, or the environment. WideStrikeŽ cotton contains a Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac protein and a Cry1F protein, both previously approved by the Agency. These proteins are intended to control tobacco budworm, pink bollworm, cotton bollworm, cabbage looper, saltmarsh caterpillar, cotton leaf perforator, soybean looper, beet armyworm, fall armyworm, yellowstriped armyworm and European corn borer. WideStrikeŽ cotton is a Dow AgroSciences product.
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