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Pesticide News Story: Phaseout of Azinphos-methyl Marks Milestone in Protection of Human Health and the Environment

For Release: November 28, 2006

Achieving another important human health and environmental protection milestone, EPA has issued its decision to phase out the remaining uses of the organophosphate (OP) insecticide azinphos-methyl (AZM) over the next several years. This action will increase protections for agricultural workers and the environment.

This phaseout will encourage and facilitate transition to safer alternatives and reduce risks to farm workers, pesticide applicators, and aquatic ecosystems. Under the agreement,

All other uses of AZM have been voluntarily canceled by the registrants. EPA consulted extensively with stakeholders and carefully considered both the risks and benefits of AZM in developing this plan. During the phaseout, additional use restrictions will help minimize risks. For example, reduced annual application rates will be phased in, buffers for water bodies will be increased, and buffers for occupied dwellings will be added. The Agency expects growers to successfully adapt and make the transition to available safer alternative pesticides, including acetamiprid, lambda-cyhalothrin, methoxyfenozide, novaluron, tebufenozide, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam.

The registrants will develop training materials in both English and Spanish that are designed to educate workers regarding

  1. work practices that can reduce exposure to AZM;
  2. the recognition of symptoms associated with cholinesterase inhibition; and
  3. how to seek medical attention in the event that workers experience such symptoms.
These materials will include a description of how, and by whom, the training will be conducted.

To facilitate the transition to safer alternatives, growers, registrants, and other stakeholders will meet with EPA periodically during the phaseout to discuss alternatives to AZM. This new EPA-USDA AZM Transition Strategy Workgroup will be part of the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC).

AZM is a member of the organophosphate class of pesticides that has undergone EPA reevaluation through the pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment programs. These efforts ensure that safe and effective pesticides are available in this country to support the production of an abundant, healthy food supply and to safely meet other pest control needs.

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