Pest Management Professional, April 2012

sponsored by Liphatech RODENT MANAGEMENT SERIES Part 1 of 6 Continued from page 26 What about pesticides and it has never received such data for non commensal homeowner products R evising label language for professional products was a secondary issue for the U S Environmental Protection Agency EPA during the rodenticide registration process Shortly after the process began in the fall of 1998 the future availability of homeowner rodenticides became the dominant if not singular issue While the EPA seriously considered classifying certain rodenticides as restricted use pesticides RUPs as a means to keep such rodenticides out of the hands of homeowners the agency decided against designating any additional types of rodenticides as RUPs Instead the EPA entered into distribution agreements with rodenticide manufacturers to prevent many types of rodenticides from entering channels of commerce such as hardware and big box stores where the products would be easily accessible to homeowners The EPA established minimum quantity requirements for di erent types of rodenticides For example second generation professional rodenticide products now must be purchased in 16 pound quantities while rst generation and nonanticoagulant products must be bought in 4 pound quantities Most notably the EPA limited the types of formulations available for homeowner purchase to block baits with tamper resistant bait stations Reckitt Benckiser the manufacturer of d CON strongly objected to the EPAs proposed restrictions and led suit in federal district court In January 2011 Reckitt scored a signi cant legal victory The court ruled the EPA had circumvented the process to which Reckitt as a manufacturer was entitled under federal pesticide law and directed the EPA to follow the laws cancellation process A signi cant step in the cancellation process took place in December 2011 when a scienti c advisory panel met outside the nations capital to consider key science and technical issues related to the EPAs decision to limit homeowner access to rodenticides The issue is expected to play out administratively and legally during the next few years and probably wont be resolved completely before 2015 rodents Rodenticide manufacturers counter that the market doesnt justify the expense of generating the data Moreover many believe the products have a solid track record of controlling non commensal rodenticides and safeguarding public health effectively The restriction could become problematic for PMPs in western states who deal with just as many non commensal rodents as the commensal species Arizona applied to the EPA for a Special Local Needs SLN label under federal pesticide law The SLN label permits PMPs in Arizona to treat for wood or pack rats New Mexico is exploring the possibility of seeking an SLN label as well PMPs owe this Sweet Save to the teamwork of the U S EPA NPMA ASPCRO rodenticide manufacturers Dr Bobby Corrigan and the California League of Food Processors NPMA ASPCRO and rodenticide manufacturers are seeking to revisit the issue with EPA officials in a broader manner than having all states apply for SLN labels PMPs feedback helped label revision pitches Throughout the past year NPMA staff heard from countless PMPs about the difficulties of managing rodent problems at certain accounts and settings under the previous rodenticide label restrictions These discussions with PMPs made clear that almost every professional would encounter situations in which a use pattern they previously applied no longer was permitted under the revised rodenticide product labels crystallizing the importance of modifying the labels as quickly as possible PMP Harrington director of government affairs for the National Pest Management Association NPMA can be reached at gharrington@ pestworld org Rosenberg NPMAs senior vice president of government affairs can be reached at rosenberg@ pestworld org On the Web For additional documentation about the changes to rodenticide labels NPMApestworld org docs ePestWorld Response 20to 20ASPCRO 20March 202012 PDF NPMApestworld org docs ePestWorld 50 20Foot 20Document 20Clari cation 20to 20Bell 20 3 2020 2012 Signed 1 pdf 28 April 2012 Pest Management Professional mypmp net