On Thursday , the Environmental Protection Agency ordered a recall of DuPont ’s Imprelis , the in style herbicide in the chemical company ’s armory .
Issued under the Federal Insecticide , Fungicide and Rodenticide Act , the EPA club require DuPont to immediately stop the sale and dispersion ofImprelisin the United States and creates criminal penalties for anyone who uses or sell Imprelis .
DuPont ’s late herbicide was approved for use by turf professionals only and was market to the landscaping diligence as safer and more eco - favorable than its predecessors . In their merchandising material , DuPont stated:“Imprelis ™ allows turf professionals to control dandelion , clover and plantains plus the toughest broadleaf weeds — like ground ivy , wild violets and trefoil — even during reseeding or showery days . Its single active component has one of the lowest program rates , combined with low toxicity to mammal and low environmental impact . Professionals treating residential and commercial-grade lawn , golf courses , greensward farm , and sensible area such as schools , parks and gymnastic fields will benefit from this high story of performance and environmental feature film . ”Low environmental impact , indeed .
EPA’s Imprelis Investigation
EPA launched its Imprelis investigation in July after M of landscaper , homeowners , and landowners across the U.S. filed ill of damage to trees , in particular Norway Spruce , Balsam Fir , and other coniferous evergreen plant .
The EPA investigation uncover that DuPont actuallyknewof Imprelis ’ potential to damage evergreens , but never include this information on Imprelis ’ product recording label .
The Detroit Free Press report : “ the EPA said that DuPont had trial data that showed its herbicide Imprelis was harmful to Norway Spruce , Balsam Fir and other trees when it was give EPA approval last August … Despite that test datum , ( DuPont ) does not warn or monish about possible terms to … certain species of trees . ” The EPA does not say if that exam datum was submitted in the original documents for product approval .
Did EPA know about DuPont’s test data when it gave approval to Imprelis?
According to aNew York Times articleon July 14 , 2011 : “ Imprelis went through about 400 trial , including tests on conifer , and perform without problems , according to experts at DuPont and at the E.P.A. The way review the weed killer for 23 months before granting its conditional favourable reception , meaning that all of the safety information was not yet in but the agency judged Imprelis to be a good production . ” New York and California never give their approval to Imprelis , conceive that the production required further testing .
The participating ingredient in Imprelis isaminocyclopyrachlor , part of a raw family of weedkiller viewed as being safer than previous weed killers . In granting conditional approval last August , EPA stated that“aminocyclopyrachlor will not cause any unreasonable inauspicious effects to human wellness or to the surround and that the manipulation of the pesticide is in the public ’s interest . ”(The all over command was antecedently available on theregulations.govwebsite , which is no longer available ) . Kate Childress , a DuPont spokeswoman , said that studies were submit to the EPA once it begin its investigating . “ Among these were studied on the effects of Imprelis on trees , including studies that showed injury to trees under certain circumstances … Everything was done in compliance with ( the Federal Insecticide , Fungicide and Rodenticide Act ) . There was no intention to deceive the EPA whatsoever , ” she said .
