WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed amending its imported fire ant regulations to add Chipco’s Fipronil to the list of treatments approved for container-grown nursery stock and grass sod, according to a USDA press release.
This action would make another authorized treatment available to people interested in moving containerized plants and commercial grass sod interstate from quarantined areas. The proposal is based on research demonstrating that the material is effective for long-term protection and certification based on application rate.
APHIS also proposed to update the regulations by making the rates of application for chlorpyrifos, a currently authorized insecticide, consistent with current product labeling.
Consideration will be given to comments postmarked, commercially delivered or e-mailed on or before July 1. Please send an original and three copies of postal or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. 01-115-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If you use e-mail, address your comments to regulations@aphis.usda.gov, and make sure to include them in the body of the message and not in an attached file. Also, include your name and address and use “Docket No. 01-115-1” in the subject line.
The author is Managing Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at nwisniewski@lawnandlandscape.com.