Sulfuryl fluoride (ProFume)
EPA's decision to ban its use as a food fumigant

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For the past nine years, the Fluoride Action Network -- along with the Environmental Working Group and Beyond Pesticides -- have persisted in challenging EPA's decision to allow DOW AgroSciences to fumigate hundreds of food commodities in the United States with sulfuryl fluoride. On Monday, January 11, EPA announced that they have granted all our Objections to the use of sulfuryl fluoride on the grounds that children are being overexposed to fluoride. EPA therefore is withdrawing ALL previously allowed tolerances for sulfuryl fluoride on ALL foodstuffs - see Federal Notice of January 19. The deadline for public comments to the Federal Notice is April 19. This is the first time in EPA's history that they have granted an Objection to a pesticide.

Public comment on EPA's proposal are due A July 5, 2011:
The U.S. EPA's Pesticides Division is requesting comments on its proposal to ban the use of sulfuryl fluoride (ProFume) as a post-harvest food fumigant.

Some background on the ban:

• Federal Register Notice (Jan 19, 2011) - EPA's announcement of the ban.
• Federal Register Notice (April 6, 2011) - Extension for public comments to July 5.
• EPA's Documents cited in Federal Register
• FAN's Statement on this stunning victory - Jan 11, 2011
• NY Times: EPA proposes phaseout of fluoride-based pesticide - Jan 11, 2011
• NY Times: Political battle brewing on sulfuryl fluoride ban - Jan 13, 2011
• FAN's response to brewing battle - Jan 14, 2011
• Joint press release from Environmental Working Group - Jan 10, 2011
• FAN/EWG's Consolidated Objections to Sulfuryl Fluoride - Nov '06
• FAN/EWG's Request for a Stay of the Tolerances - June '06
• NY Attorney General's Statement Calling for Stay - Aug, '06
• More background on sulfuryl fluoride

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