Cancellation of Chlorpyrifos

 

Some of you have probably heard or seen popular press articles about the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal’s order ruling that EPA must ban the active ingredient chlorpyrifos which is an active is several insecticides including Lorsban 4E, Lorsban Advanced, Cobalt, Cobalt Advanced and several generic insecticides. At this point it is very early in the process and impossible to tell what the outcome will be and how it affects us.

 

Currently EPA is reviewing the court’s decision and it is unknown how they will respond. EPA could appeal or decide to fully comply. Perhaps it will be something in between. I am sorry but the best thing to do, for now, is to stay tuned. The glass half-full response is that the 60-day cancellation period will get us through the 2018 Wisconsin growing season. We will just have to take a wait and see approach for next year.

 

For the interim, you can continue to use chlorpyrifos according to label directions. Typically, with a cancellation or tolerance revocation there is window of time where existing stocks can be used. I do not know if there will be such a window or how long that window will be open. Stay connected.

 

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.