EPA Gives Another Update on Chlorpyrifos – It Is Now Legal to Spray on All Labeled Crops

As NAAA reported at the end of last year, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated EPA’s 2021 ban on the use of chlorpyrifos on all food or feed crops. Last week, EPA provided another announcement – since the courts mandate has been officially issued, the tolerances for chlorpyrifos have been reinstated. This means that chlorpyrifos can now be legally sprayed on all crops for which it was legal on before the ban. EPA cautions that individual states may have their own rules relating to chlorpyrifos, and this ruling will not impact those state laws. 

The remainder of last week’s announcement is similar to the December announcement. EPA will begin moving forward working on an amended proposed interim decision (PID) that limits chlorpyrifos to 11 crops: alfalfa, apple, asparagus, cherry (tart), citrus, cotton, peach, soybean, strawberry, sugar beet, spring wheat, and winter wheat. NAAA is already working on making sure aerial application is on the label for all of those crops and is in communication with grower groups and registrants to see if expanding the list of allowable crops beyond the 11 is possible. NAAA has learned EPA anticipates releasing the amended chlorpyrifos PID in early 2025, which strongly suggests there will be no changes to chlorpyrifos registration during 2024.

Because some registrants canceled their chlorpyrifos products after the ban, NAAA advises aerial applicators to verify the current registration status of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos at EPA’s Pesticide Product and Label System or look for the product on the chlorpyrifos cancelation order. Keep watching NAAA’s eNews and other communications for updates on chlorpyrifos and other pesticides.