Carbaryl, Carbofuran, and Methomyl - National Marine Fisheries ...

are subject to a four year phase-out. However, final cancellation of all carbofuran uses
may take several years and the decision to cancel carbofuran registrations could be
subject to legal challenges. Additionally, EPA indicated that FMC wishes to retain
registrations for six uses: corn, potatoes, pumpkins, sunflowers, pine seedlings, and
spinach grown for seed (Jones 2009). FMC also proposed to phase out use of artichokes
over two years. EPA plans to consider FMC’s proposal for the continued registration of
carbofuran at a future date.
The IRED indicated there are currently one technical, two manufacturing-use, and six
end-use products registered under Section 3 of FIFRA. There are also 77 active SLN
registrations under Section 24(c) of FIFRA (EPA 2006). The NPIRS website suggests
one registrant holds nine active registrations of pesticide products containing carbofuran
(EPA registration numbers: 279-2712, 279-2862, 279-2874, 279-2876, 279-2922, 279-
3023, 279-3038, 279-3060, and 279-3310). Many carbofuran uses and products were
recently canceled through voluntary requests of the product registrant. Under the
conditions of the cancelation order, existing stocks of these carbofuran products may be
sold or used until they are depleted, opr until the effective date for the revocation of the
associated tolerances (Federal Register/Vol. 74, No. 51/ March 18, 2009/11551-11553).
Usage Information
Nearly one million lbs a.i. are applied annually from the application of liquid carbofuran
formulations (EPA 2006). The major use of liquid formulations of carbofuran is on corn,
alfalfa, and potatoes. Under the existing terms and conditions of the registration, sale of
the granular formulation is limited to 2,500 lbs a.i. per year, and use is limited to pine
seedlings, cucurbits, bananas (in Hawaii only), and spinach grown for seed (EPA 2006).
Carbofuran use has decreased significantly in California over the last decade. CDPR
indicates agricultural uses of carbofuran exceeded 200,000 lbs in 1996 and use declined
each preceding year with approximately 23,000 lbs of carbofuran applied in California in
2006 (CDPR 2007). Multiyear use statistics for describing temporal trends of carbofuran
were unavailable for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. It is anticipated that use of
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