An EPA appeals board that oversees pesticide regulation upheld cancellation of U.S. use of the insecticide flubendiamide, made by Bayer and sold under the brand name Belt, said Agri-Pulse. The board ruled that Bayer and co-registrant Nichino America voluntarily agreed in 2008 to cancel registration of the chemical if the EPA later determined it caused unreasonable environmental damage.
The panel said existing stocks of the insecticide can be sold by retailers and used by farmers. Belt is used on crops ranging from corn, cotton and tobacco to grapes, legumes and pistachios to combat cutworms, codling moths and other pests. Bayer says it is long-lasting and poses minimal risk to beneficial insects.
Before the Environmental Appeals Board, Bayer argued that it had been boxed unfairly into accepting the 2008 terms. After the decision, it said it would comply with the cancellation order “and evaluate its options going forward.”