EPA Proposes to Cancel Some Uses of Propoxur

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to cancel certain uses of the propoxur after preliminary human health assessment found risks from certain applications, EPA announced yesterday.

 “Today, we are taking strong steps to protect human health—especially the health of children—from this widely used insecticide,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.  “The agency will continue its work to reduce exposure from pesticides that pose the greatest risk to those who are the most vulnerable.”  

From 1995 to 2013, EPA has reduced exposure from carbamates, the class of insecticide that includes propoxur. The use of carbamates has fallen by 70 percent.

EPA and the registrant reached an agreement to voluntarily cancel certain uses of propoxur.  At the same time, EPA is proposing to cancel certain other pesticide registrations. Voluntary cancellation is the quickest way to fully address these risks, and best protect public health. EPA is proposing to cancel all indoor aerosol, spray and liquid formulations of propoxur inside hospitals and other commercial or institutional facilities where children may be present and all use in food-handling establishments.

After these cancellations, there would be no remaining food uses, and no tolerances levels for propoxur.  In 2007, EPA cancelled the use of propoxur sprays inside homes, day care facilities, and schools, and in 2014, EPA cancelled propoxur pet collars. Today’s action was conducted as part of the agency’s registration review program.

EPA is requesting a 30 day comment period that will begin upon publication in the Federal Register at: www.regulations.gov and searching for EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0296.

EPA is posting a pre-publication copy at: http://www2.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/proposed-cancellation-certain-uses-propoxur