Outdoor Foliar Products Re-Labeled
for Pollinator Protection
The
U.S. EPA issued a letter today to registrants of nitroguanidine neonicotinoid products
that requires new labeling on all products registered for outdoor foliar use,
(except granulars).
These
include products that contain the active ingredients clothianidin, dinotefuran,
imidacloprid, or thiamethoxam regardless of formulation, concentration, or
intended user.
The
necessary label changes incorporate a “Pollinator Protection Box” as well as
new pollinator language to be added to the “Directions for Use” section of each
label.
These
labeling terms will highlight the measures necessary to better protect
pollinators and also help achieve label clarity and consistency across this
chemical class.
Current
labeling must use the term “foraging” to describe any reference to bees, as
opposed to former phasing such as “actively visiting,” “actively foraging” or “visiting.”
It
is essential for these label statements to be implemented immediately on the labeling
of eligible products. In the absence of labeling changes, EPA will take
appropriate actions to ensure that these products are consistent with the
requirements of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
If
these changes are made in the expedited fashion described in the letter, EPA anticipates
labels with the new language will be available for the 2014 use season.
The
submission of efficacy data and the company’s pollinator stewardship plan
requested in the EPA’s July 22, 2013 letter should be submitted if they have
not been submitted to date.
Registrants
are requested to submit an electronic label (text .pdf) and the fast-track
amendment application no later than September 3, 2013 via email to mailto:laws.meredith@epa.gov.
Labels: bees, clothianidin, dinotefuran, EPA, fast-track amendment, FIFRA, foraging, imidacloprid, neonicotinoid, nitroguanidine, outdoor foliar, pollinator protection, pollinator protection box, stewardship plan