Chlorpyrifos use in Minnesota
On January 1, 2022, the MDA cancelled 34 chlorpyrifos products containing food and feed uses. This action was taken because of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to revoke all food and feed tolerances for chlorpyrifos that was set to take place on February 28th, 2022. On November 4, 2023, the Eighth Circuit Court stated that EPA should have considered modification of tolerances in addition to complete revocation and noted that the Agency had “identified 11 specific candidates” of food and feed crop uses whose tolerances could be so modified in a Preliminary Interim Decision EPA issued in 2020.
Following the ruling, food and feed tolerances for chlorpyrifos were reinstated. While some chlorpyrifos products were cancelled at the federal level, certain products remain federally active and can be registered in Minnesota as well. The MDA has conditionally registered chlorpyrifos products with food and feed uses for which the registrants have submitted their applications. Conditions of the registration include that it is for 2024 only, and a copy of the Water Quality Best Management Practices (BMPs) for chlorpyrifos must accompany the sale of each chlorpyrifos product. The BMPs can be found on the Pesticide Best Management Practices page.
The MDA will work with registrants of chlorpyrifos insecticide products and the EPA to implement state-specific use restrictions for Minnesota during the 2024 growing season. The affected chlorpyrifos products are all chlorpyrifos products approved for use on alfalfa, corn, soybean, sugarbeet, wheat, and other agricultural crops. These conditions do not impact non-agricultural chlorpyrifos products already registered in the state.
This registration is valid for the 2024 growing season only and expires on December 31, 2024.
The sale and use of chlorpyrifos products remains restricted to products currently registered in the state of Minnesota. Please check the MDA’s Registered Product Search to find products currently registered in Minnesota.
Use of products that are not actively registered in Minnesota may result in enforcement action by the MDA.
Final Scoping Document for Chlorpyrifos Special Registration Review Posted
Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide widely used in Minnesota to manage a variety of arthropod pests. Chlorpyrifos is also a source of contamination in multiple surface water bodies in Minnesota and can pose a substantial risk to human health and the environment. As of June 2020, 13 surface water bodies in Minnesota were proposed for designation by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) or designated as impaired by the EPA due to chlorpyrifos water quality standard violations. In 2012, the Commissioner of Agriculture designated chlorpyrifos as a “surface water pesticide of concern.” Chlorpyrifos exposure can lead to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and neurodevelopmental effects in humans. Thus, the Commissioner of Agriculture has directed the Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division to conduct an in-depth special registration review of chlorpyrifos.
The MDA wrote a draft scoping document in collaboration with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Health, and the University of Minnesota to define the focus and topics for consideration of the special registration review of chlorpyrifos. The draft scoping document was made available for a 60-day public comment period (from July 20 to September 17, 2020). The MDA received public comments from 11 groups or individuals. They were thoroughly reviewed, and minor revisions were made to the scoping document. The revised, final, scoping document will be used to guide the review. Documents related to the scoping document can be found below.
- State Register announcement (Volume 45, Number 37)
- Draft - Chlorpyrifos Special Registration Review Scoping Document (PDF)
- Revised, final - Chlorpyrifos Special Registration Review Scoping Document (PDF)
- Public Comments (PDF)
- The MDA's response to public comments (PDF)
Questions and/or requests for more information may be emailed to:
- Theresa Cira (Theresa.Cira@state.mn.us), or
- Raj Mann (Rajinder.Mann@state.mn.us)
Minnesota farmers who have chlorpyrifos insecticide products made by two manufacturers can now arrange to return the products. Corteva Agriscience and ADAMA US have been given permission by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take back the chemicals.
The MDA cancelled chlorpyrifos product registrations for use on food and feed on January 1, 2022, in conjunction with the EPA cancelling all food and feed tolerances for chlorpyrifos in the U.S. A “tolerance” represents the maximum level of pesticide residue legally allowed in or on raw agricultural commodities and processed food and feed. Without tolerance levels, food and feed are considered adulterated when the product is found on them. This has stopped the use of chlorpyrifos on all food and feed and made it illegal to use, sell, or distribute any of these products.
Individuals with existing products listed below should contact their distributor or retailer to arrange for returns to Corteva or ADAMA. Additional information can be found on the Regulations.gov website or by contacting ADAMA an 866-406-6262 or ordergroup@adama.com, or Corteva at 800-258-3033.
Those with existing stocks of other chlorpyrifos products with no available uses should continue to store the product according to label directions. If you have chlorpyrifos products that need to be disposed of, check with your dealer, co-op, or ag retailer to see if they will take back products. If they will not, please use the MDA's Waste Pesticide Collection Program. For volumes of more than 300 pounds, call MDA’s Jane Boerboom at 612-214-6843. If other disposal or product return options become available, the MDA will provide more information on the Waste Pesticide Collection Program website.
| Brand Name | EPA Reg. No. |
|---|---|
| Lorsban 15G | 62719–34 |
| Lorsban-4E | 62719–220 |
| Lorsban 50W in Water Soluble Packets | 62719–221 |
| Lorsban 75WG | 62719–301 |
| Cobalt | 62719–575 |
| Lorsban Advanced | 62719–591 |
| Cobalt Advanced | 62719–615 |
| Hatchet | 62719-220 |
| Govern 4E Insecticide | 62719-220-55467 |
| Agrisolutions Yuma 4E | 62719-220-1381 |
| Whirlwind | 62719-220-5905 |
| Lorsban 75WG | 62719-301-10163 |
| Brand Name | EPA Reg. No. |
|---|---|
| Chlorpyrifos 4E Ag | 66222-19 |
| Vulcan | 66222-233 |
| Quali-Pro Chlorpryfios 4E | 66222-19 |
With revocation of tolerances, farmers will need to consider alternative insecticides or other management tactics for crop pests. In collaboration with the University of Minnesota, the MDA published an article on Alternatives for Management of Key Minnesota Crop Pests. The following extension crop and pest management guides provide extensive lists of products available for management of pests but are not Minnesota-specific. Always use the MDA's Registered Product Search to check if products are registered for use in Minnesota and read the label before use.
- Field crops- North Dakota Field Crop Insect Management Guide (PDF) (North Dakota State University)
- Vegetables- Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2022 (Purdue University)
- Fruit- Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide 2023-2024 (Purdue University)
- Other crops- Towards Safer and More Sustainable Alternatives to Chlorpyrifos: An action plan for California
Please contact University of Minnesota Extension for any questions about alternative pest management options for specific crop pests.
