The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formally denied all objections to a ban on the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos that took effect last week. The ban, which was announced in August under a court order stemming from a lawsuit brought by health and environmental groups, took effect on Monday, February 28. Multiple objections have been filed by agricultural groups with many still pending. An order published in the Federal Register denies all the objections and requests for stays.  The EPA said this move was intended to put the public health and safety first. Chlorpyrifos is widely used on crops ranging from soybeans to fruits. Research has shown that is can potentially cause neurological effects in children and other health concerns in adults. The FDA is giving food producers up to four years to sell products from crops that were legally treated with the pesticide before the ban took effect.

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Picture Credit Susanne Kuehne

Posted on 16 March 2022