Arysta LifeScience, EPA Agree to Take Iodomethane Off Market
26 November 2012 U.S. EPA and Arysta LifeScience have agreed to terminate all agricultural use of iodomethane in the United States by the end of 2012 and ultimately remove all iodomethane products from the U.S. market.
The EPA is requesting comment on Arysta’s request for voluntary cancellation of all of the company’s iodomethane product registrations.
“As of January 1, 2013, Arysta’s technical/manufacturing use iodomethane product may no longer be used in the U.S. except to formulate products for export,” EPA said in a statement.
Iodomethane, or methyl iodide, has been registered since 2007 for use as a pre-plant soil fumigant to control pests in soil where fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and turf are to be grown. In March 2012, Arysta, the sole registrant, announced plans to immediately suspend all U.S. sales of its iodomethane Midas brand products as part of an internal review of the fumigant and based on its economic viability in the U.S. marketplace.
Under the agreement, Arysta’s existing iodomethane end-use product registrations will be cancelled and use of existing stocks in the U.S. will be prohibited effective Dec. 31, 2012. Further distribution and sale of iodomethane end-use products will be prohibited except to return the products to Arysta (the company will take back existing stocks) or for proper disposal or export, according to EPA.
Arysta LifeScience will continue to support the use of iodomethane outside of the U.S. where it remains economically viable. The technical product registration will be cancelled effective December 1, 2015. After that date, all sale and distribution of the technical product will also be prohibited except for proper disposal or export. Arysta will send iodomethane product purchasers and retailers a letter describing these provisions.
EPA’s Nov. 21, 2012 Federal Register notice announces the agency’s receipt of Arysta’s request for voluntary cancellation of all of its iodomethane registrations and opens a 30-day comment period. EPA anticipates finalizing the cancellation order by the end of 2012, after which it plans to respond to a March 2010 petition from Earthjustice and other organizations requesting that the agency suspend and cancel all iodomethane registrations.
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(Source: U.S. EPA; edited by Rebecca Bartels, Associate Editor)
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