The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has moved to stop the use of FMC’s Furadan, or carbofuran – used to control beetles and other pests in corn, sorghum, alfalfa, rice, bananas and other crops – on all food crops, including imports, reports the Associated Press.
Carbofuran’s granular form was banned in the mid-1990s after it was found to have killed more than 2 million birds.
FMC Spokesman Jim Fitzwater said the company thinks there is no danger in using carbofuran on food crops.
The proposed regulation is the latest action in an effort the EPA began in 2006 to remove carbofuran from the market. EPA spokesman Dale Kemery said: "This prohibits all residue of any kind on food products, and that includes imported foods." The agency will publish proposed regulations the final week of July.
According to Kemery, the regulation will likely take effect in 2009 after a comment period.
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