Fecha de publicación: 19/08/2024 Fuente: California Agriculture Today Courtesy of CACASA
The California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association has issued a letter clarifying food safety concerns surrounding the herbicide Dacthal (DCPA dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate) recently banned by the U.S. EPA.
The letter states the following:
On August 6, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the suspension of all registrations and uses of the herbicide product Dacthal (DCPA: dimethyltetrachloroterephthalate).
The California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA) wishes to reiterate that DCPA is a pre-emergent herbicide commonly used in the production of cole crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower. It is typically applied at the same time the crop is being planted and is not used on vegetable plants during the growing cycle. 
As such, DCPA is not considered a food safety concern for consumers.  Any applications of DCPA on commodities listed on the product label prior to U.S. EPA’s execution of the suspension were legal in nature and continue to be subject to strict residue tolerances to ensure the safety of consumers.  
The U.S. EPA has stated it has taken action to ban this pesticide due to significant health risks to unborn babies of pregnant individuals who may be working in areas where DCPA has been applied
CACASA members, who are Agricultural Commissioners operating in every California county, have taken immediate action to notify farmers of this ban and their responsibility to discontinue use of this product immediately.
The ban on DCPA will be enforced as part of Ag Commissioners’ extensive and ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with pesticide laws. These efforts include physical inspections of farming businesses to make sure they are in compliance with all regulations. Ag Commissioners and their staff regularly drive around farming areas looking for pesticide applications that are in process and then conduct surprise inspections to verify that all laws are being followed.
Should you have additional concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
A copy of this letter can be downloaded here.
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