Emergency Suspension of DCPA in California, Federally
What you need to know:
DPR, in coordination with local county agricultural commissioners, is enforcing U.S. EPA’s order to suspend use and sales of DCPA in California.
Background on U.S. EPA Action:
On August 7, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) published its decision to issue an Emergency Suspension Order, suspending all registrations of pesticide products containing dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA, chlorthal dimethyl, or dacthal).
The U.S. EPA’s risk assessment was initiated in 2022 as part of the agency’s regular 15-year-review and after the agency’s repeated demand for additional information from AMVAC, the pesticide registrant, as detailed in U.S. EPA’s release.
U.S. EPA described the basis for its suspension action in its August 6, 2024, announcement: "EPA has taken this action because unborn babies whose pregnant mothers are exposed to DCPA, sometimes without even knowing the exposure has occurred, could experience changes to fetal thyroid hormone levels, and these changes are generally linked to low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills later in life, some of which may be irreversible."
More information: EPA Issues Emergency Order to Stop Use of Pesticide Dacthal to Address Serious Health Risk | US EPA
Background on DPR Action:
DPR has been in close, regular communication with U.S. EPA on the agency’s evaluation and mitigation of DCPA risks.
Following the completion of its 2023 risk assessment, in April 2024, U.S. EPA issued a public warning regarding DCPA’s serious health risks and indicated its intent to act as quickly as possible to address those risks.
DPR shared U.S. EPA’s April 2024 warning of DCPA risks and intent to act to mitigate those risks, along with a list of DCPA alternatives, with stakeholders and the public in May 2024.
DPR has issued enforcement guidance to California Agricultural Commissioners (CACs) and shared information about DCPA’s suspension with pesticide dealers and growers. DPR is also working with California Department of Food and Agriculture researchers to continue to identify alternative pest management practices for weed control.
Pesticides are registered by U.S. EPA and separately evaluated and registered in California before they can be sold or used in the state. DPR continues to evaluate pesticides following registration and, where a risk is identified, must conduct a risk assessment prior to taking regulatory action to limit use in California. In the case of DCPA, DPR considered options for evaluating and mitigating the risks identified in U.S. EPA’s 2023 risk assessment. Due to the progress of U.S. EPA’s risk assessment that identified significant adverse health impacts associated with DCPA and the agency’s expressed intent to take strong action to mitigate DCPA risks, DPR determined the most effective and expeditious approach to mitigating DCPA risks was to work closely with U.S. EPA to enforce their action on the pesticide.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE REGULATION
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s mission is to protect human health and the environment. The department achieves this mission by fostering safer, sustainable pest management and operating a robust pesticide regulatory system. DPR’s work includes registering all pesticides sold or used in California, conducting pre- and post-registration scientific evaluations of pesticides to assess and mitigate potential harm to human health or the environment for pesticides in the air and water, and enforcing pesticide use laws and regulations in coordination with 55 County Agriculture Commissioners and their 500 field inspectors.
DPR also conducts outreach to ensure pesticide workers, farmworkers and local communities have access to pesticide safety information. More information about DPR can be found on our website.
###
