The Environmental Protection Agency established pesticide tolerances for residues of flumioxazin in globe artichoke, cabbage, Chinese napa cabbage, olives, pomegranate, and prickly pear pads and fruit. The tolerances are effective April 5. Objections and requests for hearings are due by June 4.
The EPA said it's withdrawing approval of the import and sale of up to 74,000 gas-powered on- and off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles from China, saying it believes it received either incomplete or falsified certification information. The EPA had issued the vehicle certificates from 2006 to 2012 to Snyder Technology and Snyder Computer Systems, doing business as Wildfire Motors Corp. (here).
The Environmental Protection Agency set production and consumption allowances for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) for 2012-2014 in a final rule. The rule implements a 2009 ruling of the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Arkema, Inc. v. EPA that said an accelerated schedule for elimination of production and use of HCFCs was impermissibly retroactive (see ). The final rule reduces consumption allowances, which allow production or import, of HCFC-22; raises production allowances for both HCFC-22 and HCFC-142b; and maintains consumption allowances for HCFC-142b at about their current levels.
The Environmental Protection Agency set exemptions for tolerances for residues of styrene-ethylene-propylene block copolymer (here); and castor oil, polymer with adipic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and ricinoleic acid (here), when used as inert ingredients in pesticide formulations. The exemptions, which are effective April 3, eliminate the need to set maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the chemicals, EPA said. Objections to the EPA’s final rule are due by June 3.
The Environmental Protection Agency set a tolerance for the pesticide clothianidin in dried tea, in a final rule effective March 29. The agency also increased the tolerance level for the pesticide in pepper to support a shorter pre-harvest interval, it said. Objections on the final rule are due by May 28.
The Environmental Protection Agency is beginning registration reviews for 19 pesticides to determine if they still perform their intended tasks without unreasonable adverse effects on humans or the environment. Comments on each review are due by May 28. See the EPA’s notice for a list of pesticides under review.
The Environmental Protection Agency set pesticide tolerances for thiamethoxam in or on coffee (here), and emamectin benzoate in or on the cucurbit vegetable crop group 9 (which includes cucumbers, squash, watermelon, and muskmelon) (here). The agency also revised its pesticide tolerance for abamectin in or on cotton and strawberries (here). All of the new tolerances are effective March 27. Objections and requests for hearings must be submitted by May 28.
The Environmental Protection Agency established an exemption, effective March 22, to the tolerance for residues of banda de Lupinus albus doce (BLAD) in or on all food commodities, when applied as a fungicide and used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. BLAD is a naturally occurring polypeptide in sweet lupines (Lupinus albus). Objections to the final rule and requests for hearings are due by May 21.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued its periodic status report on Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) premanufacture notices (PMN), test marketing exemption (TME) applications, and notices of commencement (NOC) received from companies that intend to import or manufacture new chemicals. Comments are due by April 22, and must be identified by PMN or TME number. The status report covers the period from Dec. 1, 2012, to Jan. 11, 2013. See EPA’s notice for the list of PMNs, TMEs, and NOCs received by the agency.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule setting tolerances for the pesticide amitraz in honey and honey comb. The tolerances are effective March 20. Objections to the tolerances are due May 20.