The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their proposed interim registration review decision for mancozeb in July 2024. The proposed changes include a cancelation of all uses in grape (table, wine, juice, and raisin) along with other label changes to address spray drift and soil erosion/surface water runoff risks. Mancozeb is a multisite mode of action fungicide used for the prevention and control of fungal pathogens in fruit and vegetable crops, ornamental plants, and turf grass. In 2018, mancozeb used by the agricultural industry in New Jersey totaled more than 41,000 lbs. active ingredient. A summary of the EPA’s proposed mancozeb risk mitigation measures is provided below. There is an open comment period for the public to provide responses to the proposed mitigation revisions and how they could impact production. The comment period ends on September 16, 2024. To view the amended proposed interim registration review in its entirety, see Docket No. EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0291 at www.regulations.gov. For instruction on how to submit comments, visit https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/07/17/2024-15650/pesticide-registration-review-proposed-decisions-for-several-pesticides-notice-of-availability-and.
Proposed risk mitigation measures for mancozeb:
1. Use terminations for
- residential turf and ornamental uses;
- golf course uses except for tees, greens, and fairways;
- on-farm seed treatment of peanut and potato;
- all commercial seed treatment uses; seed treatment uses for barley, oat, rye, triticale, and wheat;
- mechanically pressurized handgun applications of wettable powder, liquid, and dry flowable formulations to typical-acreage field and orchard crops;
- aerial applications of all formulations to sod and wettable powder formulations to high-acreage field crops; and
- all grape (table, wine, juice, and raisin) uses.
2. Spray drift reduction measures for non-occupational bystanders when using aerial equipment to apply mancozeb products to orchard and typical-acreage field crops adjacent to residential areas a 25-foot buffer from the edge of the treated field is required.
3. Personal protective equipment requirements and engineering controls including
- double layering clothing and gloves for all mixing, loading, and application scenarios;
- APF10 respirators for several scenarios;
- Closed-loading systems for several formulations, applications, and crops; and
- Enclosed cab requirement for certain handlers including airblast applications to orchard/vineyards and nurseries.
4. Changes to Restricted-Entry Intervals (REIs) including
- Pome fruits to 4 days for all activities and the prohibition of hand-thinning fruit
- Broccoli, Cabbage to 6 days
- Cranberry to 4 days
- Pepper, Tomato, & Cucurbit Vegetables to 3 days
- Sod to 7 days
- Christmas Trees to 29 days
NOTE: Current mancozeb labels require a 12 to 48-hour REI depending on the crop or use site.
5. Spray drift management measures
- No applications during temperature inversions and >10 mph wind speeds;
- Swath displacement or reduced boom length if wind speed is 10 mph;
- More directed airblast applications to treated row and canopy foliage; and
- Restrictions on droplet size.
