US EPA proposes to register new broad-spectrum fungicide ingredient fluindapyr

EPA is seeking public comment on its proposed decision to register the new fungicide active ingredient fluindapyr for foliar agricultural and non-agricultural uses. 

EPA is proposing to register fluindapyr, in suspension concentrate form, for the following agricultural uses: 

- Soybeans; 

- Crop group 15 (cereal grains), except rice; 

- Crop group 16 (forage, fodder and straw of cereal grains); and 

- Crop group 14-12 (tree nuts). 

Proposed non-agricultural uses are:  

- Golf courses;  

- Turf in lawns and landscape areas around public, institutional and commercial properties;  

- Container- and field-grown ornamentals;  

- Greenhouse ornamentals; and 

- Utility rights-of-way, roadsides, railways and industrial areas. 

Fluindapyr protects against a broad spectrum of fungal diseases such as anthracnose, alternaria leaf spot, bermudagrass decline, brown rot blossom blight, leaf rust, pink snow mold, powdery mildew, rot eastern filbert blight, and scab.  

Fluindapyr will provide another tool in the management plan against pecan scab. As a non-strobilurin fungicide, it will help manage strobilurin-resistant C. sojina in soybean. Fluindapyr is also likely to play a role in fungicide resistance management on pecan and soybean. On other crops such as almond, turfgrass, and ornamentals, fluindapyr appears to be comparable to available alternative fungicides. 

EPA has not identified any dietary, residential, or aggregate risks of concern for human health. Risks of concern for occupational workers will be mitigated by the use of personal protective equipment as specified on the proposed label and by a 14-day restricted entry interval where necessary.  

EPA is proposing specific mitigations to address potential ecological risks to bees. These include robust advisory spray drift management language to reduce exposure and restricting the application timing of fluindapyr on almonds to “post-bloom only.”  

To read more about the proposed registration of fluindapyr and to comment, see docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0551 in regulations.gov. The public comment period will be open for 30 days.