12/08/06 EPA Talks

EPA Talks. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Producers are looking into alternatives for several products that the EPA is looking at phasing out in the near future. There are other products that will do what tried and true pesticides like Guthion do but at an additional cost and can be more labor intensive. Rick Keigwin, Director of the Biological and Economic Analysis Division Office of Pesticide Programs US Environmental Protection Agency says they have been working with producers and understand their concerns. KEIGWIN: As part of our decision on azinphos-methyl, for each of the effected crops we did somewhat detailed quantitative analysis on what we saw the potential economic impact on growers would be if they switched to alternatives. The other thing we have done is that we have announced our intention to form an advisory committee to the agency on issues affecting the transition, specifically in the case of azinophos-methyl. So we have solicited membership from a broad array of stakeholders including growers. According to Keigwin, the export market is a major factor in the process. KEIGWIN: We know from talking to some of our key trading partners such as Canada that they had applications going through their regulatory processes but the needed clearances, the needed maximum residue limits were not yet established in those markets. And so we're working with the, we're sharing our reviews to help them move their registration process through so that maximum residue limits can be established in those markets. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.