S. Jarnagin
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From: GROUP PRESS 202-260-4355 (epa-press@unixmail.rtpnc.epa.gov)
on Fri, 23 Aug 1996 15:49:17 -0400
Subject: EPA FIRST ACTION UNDER THE FOOD QUALITY PROT. ACT OF 1996
FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1996
EPA GRANTS EMERGENCY EXEMPTION FOR PYRIDABEN USE ON APPLES IN FIRST
ACTION UNDER THE FOOD QUALITY PROTECTION ACT OF 1996
EPA has approved the emergency use of the pesticide pyridaben to
control mites on apples in Delaware, New Jersey and Virginia. This is
the first decision on a new pesticide use under the revised standards
of the Food Quality Protection Act signed into law by President
Clinton on Aug. 3. The new law establishes a new, health-based
standard for tolerances (maximum legally permissible levels) for
pesticide residues in food and requires EPA, for the first time, to
establish tolerances to protect public health whenever it grants
approval for the emergency use of a pesticide under Section 18 of the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. The law also
requires EPA to make specific findings that tolerances are safe for
infants and children and establishes the general standard of a
"reasonable certainty of no harm" to consumers. EPA has determined
that the use of pyridaben as approved meets these standards and will
pose no significant risk to consumers. This action will allow the use
of pyridaben on apples in these three states through the end of
September. The exemption was requested as a result of the
cancellation earlier this year of propargite, another pesticide that
was used to control mites on apples. EPA and Uniroyal Chemical Co.,
the manufacturer of propargite, reached a voluntary agreement to
cancel a number of propargite uses, including apples, based on dietary
health risk concerns. Other registered miticides are not viable
alternatives because they are either ineffective or incompatible with
Integrated Pest Management programs. For more information, call
Robert Forrest, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs at 703-308-8417.
R-123 # # #
** End of text from cdp:headlines **
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