APS REGULATORY ALERT

EPA announces receipt of a Biopreparty pesticide tolerance petition; EPA seeks applications for Critical Use Exemption; USDA proposes to amend wheat importation regulations

Date: June 16, 2005
 

EPA announces receipt of a Biopreparty pesticide tolerance petition requesting that the agency establish an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues in or on all food commodities when Pythium oligandrum DV 74, a Biopreparaty Co., Ltd. of Prague, Czech Republic Biological Pesticide, a Plant Growth Regulator is applied to plants for the stimulation of plant growth, the enhancement of plant strength, and the prevention of fungal attack. Comments due to EPA by June 24, 2005. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-10340.htm
 
EPA seeks by August 8, 2005 applications for the Critical Use Exemption from the phase-out of methyl bromide for 2007 and beyond. This application process offers users of methyl bromide the opportunity to provide technical and economic information to support a "critical use" claim. This notice invites interested parties to provide information on the technical and economic feasibility of methyl bromide alternatives. Applicants for the exemption are requested to submit technical and economic information to EPA for U.S. review. The U.S. will then create a national nomination for review by the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. EPA encourages users with similar circumstances of use to submit a single application. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-10195.htm
 
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service proposes to amend the regulations regarding the importation of wheat and related articles by removing the prohibitions related to flag smut. APHIS has concluded that U.S. wheat would not be at risk if those prohibitions were removed. APHIS would, however, continue to prohibit the importation of wheat and related articles from flag smut-affected countries until a risk evaluation can be completed to ensure that those articles do not introduce other plant pests. Comments are due to APHIS by July 19, 2005. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/05-10094.htm