Fenamiphos Use Facts and Phaseout
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Fenamiphos Use Facts and Phaseout

   

Fenamiphos Use Facts and Phaseout1

Frederick M. Fishel2

This document describes general uses of fenamiphos, addresses specific label requirements regarding its use in Florida, and provides a description of the products phaseout.

Fenamiphos is an organophosphate insecticide/nematicide used to control pest nematodes and insects in a wide variety of vegetable, field and fruit crops, including citrus. In non-food crops, it has some approved uses on turfgrass, ornamentals and industrial sites. In the United States, nearly 300,000 acres are treated with almost one million pounds annually. Originally designed to be used during World War II as a human nerve gas, its now manufactured and marketed by Bayer CropScience under the trade name, Nemacur®. It is commercially available in both dry and liquid formulations in varying concentrations. Fenamiphos is a Restricted Use Pesticide due to high acute toxicity and toxicity to wildlife.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has assessed the risks of fenamiphos and prepared an Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) document for this pesticide (http://www.epa.gov/REDs/fenamiphos_ired.pdf) The IRED identifies risk mitigation measures needed to reduce risk, as well as data needed to better characterize risks. Bayer CropScience has requested voluntary cancellation of all existing fenamiphos registrations rather than committing to develop additional data.

Fenamiphos residues in food do not pose risk concerns; however, exposure to shallow water tables (less than 50 feet deep) and extremely vulnerable soils do pose risk concerns. Extremely vulnerable soils are defined as, "hydrologic soil group A soils that are excessively drained and predominantly sand or loamy sand such as soils in the suborder psamments" (EPA 2002) These classifications and soil taxonomy refer to USDA definitions. Therefore, all use of fenamiphos in areas with extremely vulnerable soils and shallow water tables were phased out May 31, 2005. Use on all other soils will cease effective as of May 31, 2007.

Although fenamiphos is not used in residential settings, golf course uses could lead to golfer exposure from residues on treated courses. EPA feels that the watering-in of fenamiphos following its application according to label directions adequately protects golfers from exposure.

For manufacturing-use products only, all sale and distribution by Bayer CropScience of existing stocks will be prohibited effective May 31, 2007. Sale and distribution of existing stocks by persons other than Bayer CropScience may continue until May 31, 2008. Use of end-use products in the channels of trade may continue until depleted, except where prohibited on the label. A summary of the fenamiphos phaseout is itemized in the following table.

Additional Information

Tables

Table 1. Summary of fenamiphos phaseout.

Date

Action
May 31, 2005


 Use in areas with extremely vulnerable soils and shallow water tables cancelled.
May 31, 2007


 Use on all soils cancelled
May 31, 2007


 Sale and distribution of existing stocks by Bayer CropScience cancelled
May 31, 2008


 Sale and distribution of existing stocks by persons other than Bayer CropScience cancelled
Until depleted


 Use of end-use products in the channels of trade, except where prohibited by the label

Footnotes

1. This document is PI-93, one of a series of the Pesticide Information Office, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date January 2006. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Frederick M. Fishel, associate professor, Agronomy Department, and Director, Pesticide Information Office; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication does not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.


Copyright Information

This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.