US EPA and manufacturers agree to limit methomyl usage to ensure safe drinking water

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and insecticide manufacturers have agreed to cancel or limit the use of methomyl in certain crops to ensure safety of potable water.

The initiative is a continuation of the EPA’s effort to cut down the use of carbamate including methomyl, in order to protect public health, especially of children since they are more sensitive to pesticides.

Federal initiatives have ensured reduction in exposure of food to carbamates by around 70% from 1995 to 2013, the EPA said.

Methomyl usage is restricted for residential use and can only be used by certified and trained applicators in the country. It is used in fly baits for non-agricultural purposes though.

The voluntary limitation for agricultural usage follows the periodic evaluation of drinking water carried out by the EPA, after which, it negotiated with the insecticide manufacturers for the restrictions.

Drinking water in US states of Florida and California have been found to be the most affected with the contaminant.

The EPA however has imposed the restrictions nationwide which will involve prevention of methomyl use for crops such as barley, oats and rye entirely.

While limited usage has been allowed for wheat in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, the EPA has set a limit on the number of times the insecticide can be applied on corn, celery, peppers and head and leaf lettuce.

The federal organisation has negotiated with the industry manufacturers to stop production and sale of the fly bait products. In case the products are released in the market, the manufacturers have been instructed to specify the approved usage on the label.

Multiple states have reported wildlife killings with the illegal use of methomyl fly baits to the EPA. The initiatives are expected to reduce the occurrence as well.

The registration review process for methomyl will be carried out by the federal agency, following which, the methomyl draft risk assessment will be released in 2016.