Proposed Ziram Revocations and Cancellations: Comments Sought by November 21, 2003
Date: October 22, 2003
To: Western Region State Contacts
From: Rick Melnicoe
Subject: Proposed Ziram Revocations and Cancellations
Dear Colleagues,
Below is an e-mail with attachments from Kent Smith regarding proposed Ziram revocations and cancellations. There are many crops that appear not to be supported. Please to respond to Kent on how this may affect commodities grown in the PNW.
Please copy me on any replies or you may send them directly to me to forward to Kent.
People in the PNW will be coordinating their response through Jane Thomas, the PNW Comments Coordinator.
Please try to have a response by November 21, 2003. Thanks.
Rick Melnicoe
Director, Western Region Integrated Pest Management Center
Director, Office of Pesticide Information and Coordination (UC Statewide
Pesticide Coordinator)
One Shields Avenue
4249 Meyer Hall (FedEx Deliveries only)
University of California
Davis, CA 95616-8588
Telephone: (530) 754-8378
Fax: (530) 754-8379
Web site
October 22, 2003
Dear Center Directors,
Yesterday, it came to my attention that all is not well with ziram. EPA is proposing revocation of 41 tolerances and CANCELLATION OF ZIRAM USE ON 35 CROPS. Unfortunately, they will not let me see their mitigation measures, so I am only getting information in dribs and drabs. They refuse to show the signed RED to me before it is published.
What makes this so irritating, is the fact that ziram has nearly a clean bill of health. EPA has no human tox concerns, a few worker concerns that can be solved with long pants and long sleeves, and some eco concerns for which they are reducing some rates (I already sent this to you).
The bottom line is the cost of residue testing. With a per tolerance cost of $15-18,000, the registrants are unwilling to provide the residue data for most minor uses. The registrants have indicated that they may support the tolerances on 8 additional crops that are proposed for revocation (melons, squash, cucumbers, onions, cranberries, beans carrots, and strawberries). Also, IR-4 is looking at the possibility of supporting some of the disappearing tolerances.
What uses that are disappearing are important to agriculture? Please have your states and the appropriate specialists review the attached chart and let me know which crops (with proposed tolerance revocations) are important to agriculture.
Ziram chart with proposed revocations and cancellations:
Regards,
Kent L. Smith, Ph.D.
Plant Pathologist
Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP)
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
1400 Independence Ave, SW
Room 3859, South Ag Building
Washington, DC 20250-0315
Phone: 202-720-3186
Fax 202-720-3191
Web site
