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PA SPECIAL REVIEW OF CYANAZINE TERMINATED

Release Date: 07/19/96
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PA SPECIAL REVIEW OF CYANAZINE TERMINATED

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1996

EPA TERMINATES SPECIAL REVIEW OF CYANAZINE PESTICIDE

EPA has terminated its special review of the pesticide cyanazine, as proposed in March 1996, based on voluntary actions by the manufacturers to first reduce cyanazine usage and then cancel all cyanazine registrations, effective Dec. 31, 1999. These actions, agreed to by the Agency in 1995, will result in the complete phase-out of one of the five most widely used pesticides in the United States. EPA believes the voluntary phase-out is a sound way to reduce unreasonable risk to human health and the environment because it will gradually eliminate cyanazine from the market while allowing time for growers to find alternatives. EPA placed cyanazine (along with atrazine and simazine) in special review in November 1994, after determining long-term exposure to this pesticide may pose a significant risk to public health. The special review of atrazine and simazine will continue. An estimated 23-36 million pounds of cyanazine are used annually in the United States, primarily in corn fields to control broadleaf weeds and grasses. DuPont Agricultural Products of Wilmington, Del., and Griffin Corp. of Valdosta, Ga., are the manufacturers of cyanazine. The special review notice will be published in the Federal Register the week of July 22. For more information, call Joseph Bailey at 703-308-8173.