US finalises rodenticide controls
Date:06-05-2008
The US EPA has finalised its risk mitigation measures for a group of ten rodenticides as part of the re-registration process. The measures are needed to protect children and non-target animals from exposure, while allowing continued residential and professional use. The restrictions do not apply to products registered solely for field use.
The mitigation measures differ somewhat from those proposed in January 2007, but they achieve the same goals, according to the EPA. The Agency had planned to classify the second-generation anticoagulants, brodifacoum, bromadiolone and difethialone, as restricted-use pesticides for use by certified applicators. However, objections from the poultry and livestock industries have resulted in an alternative approach being adopted. The EPA has decided to use sale and distribution limitations to restrict the use of these rodenticides from the retail market.
Second-generation anticoagulants (including difenacoum, which was registered in 2007) must only be sold in products containing at least 8 lbs (3.6 kg) of bait for structural agricultural uses and at least 16 lbs of bait for professional applicators. Sales to consumer stores are prohibited. Bait stations must be used for all outdoor, above-ground uses and for indoor uses where exposure to children or non-target animals is possible.
First-generation anticoagulants (chlorophacinone, diphacinone and warfarin) and non-anticoagulants (bromethalin, cholecalciferol and zinc phosphide) for agricultural and professional use must contain at least 4 lbs of bait. These rodenticides are also available for use in the consumer sector, but only in bait stations containing 1 lb or less. The EPA originally proposed that consumer products would only be available in tamper-resistant bait stations preloaded with solid bait blocks. However, concern over the cost of such products has resulted in the Agency allowing a specified range of bait stations for indoor or outdoor use.
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