Aug 2, 2016

Bayer to halt future sales of Belt insecticide

The EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) has upheld an earlier EPA decision to cancel registration for Bayer’s insecticide flubendiamide, marketed in the U.S. as Belt, but is allowing sales of existing stocks to growers.

The EAB overruled EPA’s proposed existing stocks determination and will permit distributors and retailers to distribute and sell remaining flubendiamide inventories, and permit growers to continue using product consistent with label use directions.

While Bayer intends to comply with the order, it will fully review the EAB’s decision and evaluate its options going forward, according to a company statement.

The ruling follows an earlier appeal to the EPA’s Administrative Law Judge, who ruled in favor of the agency after excluding any documentary evidence and testimony regarding the scientific issues raised by EPA’s actions on flubendiamide.

Growers, retailers and distributors with questions about this issue, should contact their local Bayer field sales representative, or call 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937).