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EPA reinstates, expands solfoxaflor registration & use guidelines

The EPA has expanded the registered uses for the insecticide sulfoxaflor.

Now, sulfoxaflor can be used on alfalfa, corn, millet, oats, sorghum, pineapple, and tree plantations.  The EPA registration also restores label use for citrus, cotton, cucurbits, soybeans, and strawberries.

Environmental groups including Earthjustice and the Center for Biological Diversity have criticized the EPA for expanding sulfoxaflor uses, but The EPA says the chemical is a lower risk to non-target wildlife, including pollinators than other registered alternatives like neonicotinoids. 

EPA also removed the prohibition on crops grown for seed and removes the restriction to a post-bloom application for bee-attractive crops.  EPA also removed the 2016 restriction against tank mixing with other compounds.

Sulfoxaflor is the active ingredient in Transform WG and Closer SC, made by Dow AgroSciences.