Dow’s Enlist Gets Preliminary EPA Approval
1 May 2014 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it granted preliminary approval of the Enlist Duo 2,4-D-based herbicide from Dow AgroSciences on Wednesday.
The EPA also opened a 30-day comment period, giving growers and others an opportunity to provide input on Enlist Duo herbicide before the agency makes its final registration decision. The comment period is being made available because the choline salt of 2,4-D, which is less prone to drift and volatilization than its other forms, is not currently registered for these uses.
Enlist Duo is a proprietary blend of new 2,4-D choline and glyphosate. Enlist Duo features Colex-D technology, which Dow says will provide farmers with stewardship and user benefits, including minimized potential for physical drift, ultra-low volatility, reduced odor and better handling characteristics.
EPA said in its “Proposed Registration of Enlist Duo Herbicide” that weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to glyphosate-based herbicides and are posing a problem for farmers. “If finalized, EPA’s action provides an additional tool to reduce the spread of glyphosate resistant weeds,” the agency stated.
“In its review, the EPA acknowledged the significant scientific advancements Dow AgroSciences has achieved with Enlist Duo herbicide” said Damon Palmer, U.S. commercial leader for Enlist, Dow AgroSciences. “Enlist Duo herbicide will help solve the weed control challenges growers are facing, and will be another option to further reduce the potential for development of herbicide-resistant weeds.”
According to Dow, data from late last year showed that more than 86% of corn, soybean and cotton growers in the South and 61% in the Midwest reported hard to control weeds on their farms.
The draft label for Enlist Duo includes proposed registration for Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Dow said it is working with the EPA to expand the list of states in time for the Enlist launch.
EPA said it has a “full and scientifically robust data set on 2,4-D” with respect to human health. Regulatory agencies in more than 70 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, Australia and the U.S., have authorized the use of 2,4-D since 2001 using modern regulatory requirements.
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