Posted October 9, 2013
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened its registration review of fifteen fumigant pesticides, including methyl bromide. According to the EPA notice, available here, the agency is seeking comments on work plans and requests information on when, how, and where, the pesticides should be used.
Methyl bromide (bromomethane) is regulated as a pesticide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA 7 U.S.C. §136 et seq.) and is used as: a soil fumigant, to sterilize soil before a crop is planted; a commodity treatment for post-harvest pest control on grapes, raisins, cherries, nuts, and imported material; and for structural pest control. More information on methyl bromide is available here.
The use of methyl bromide has been phased out under the Montreal Protocol and the Clean Air Act, but it is still used under various exemptions in the U.S. More information on the phase out is available here.
For more information on environmental law, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website, here.
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