EPA Issues Final Reminder: “Stop Sale” Date for Diazinon

EPA is issuing a final reminder notice to pesticide retailers that the stop-sale date for all outdoor diazinon home, lawn and garden products is Dec. 31, 2004. After that date, it will be unlawful to sell diazinon outdoor non-agricultural use products in the United States. This provision is part of an agreement between EPA and diazinon registrants to phase out and eliminate virtually all residential uses of the insecticide.

Discontinuing diazinon use in home, lawn and garden care is part of EPA’s ongoing effort under the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act to reduce the risk of pesticides, especially to children. After Dec. 31, 2004, diazinon registrants are offering a “buy back” program to assist with removing these products from the market and preventing further sale. The registrants will repurchase any unopened, unused outdoor residential products from retailers or formulators. As of Jan. 1, 2005, retailers should remove all diazinon outdoor home, lawn and garden products from store shelves and store them safely until these products can be sold back to the manufacturers or disposed of properly.

Consumers may continue to use diazinon residential products according to label directions and precautions. If consumers choose to discontinue use, they should contact their state or local hazardous waste disposal program or local solid waste collection service for information on proper disposal. Consumers are advised not to dispose of pesticides in sinks, toilets, storm drains, or any body of water. The local government may recommend that consumers take diazinon products to a household hazardous waste collection site. An organophosphate pesticide, diazinon has been one of the most widely used insecticides in the United States for household lawn and garden pest control, as well as for indoor residential treatments. All indoor use product registrations have been canceled, and retail sale of these products ended on Dec. 31, 2002. More information on diazinon is available at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/diazinon.htm

Fred Fishel, Agronomy Extension, University of Missouri 573-884-6361