Reminder: EPA Seeks Comments on Center for Food Safety Petition

A reminder that the deadline to submit comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the petition related to seeds treated with systemic insecticides is March 26, 2019. The position taken in the petition is that the Agency has improperly applied the treated article exemption in exempting treated seed from additional registration and labeling requirements under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). If EPA were to side with the petitioners, it could create a substantial burden for farmers and seed treaters without a corresponding benefit to the environment. Applying the treated article exemption to treated seed is a longstanding approach by EPA to prevent duplicative regulation. ASTA urges companies who have invested resources into seed treatment operations to consider making comments to EPA. For more information, contact Jane DeMarchi.