U.S. EPA proposes registration of the new fungicide ipflufenoquin

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking comments on its proposal to register the new active ingredient ipflufenoquin.

Ipflufenoquin may serve as a beneficial tool in managing several plant diseases, some of which are resistant to other fungicides. Proposed labeling is for scab and powdery mildew on pome fruits, and brown rot blossom blight, shot hole, anthracnose, scab, and Alternaria leaf spot on almond.

EPA’s evaluation included a robust scientific assessment, which was used to conclude that there are no risks of concern for humans. The ecological risk assessment showed there were no risks of concern for any tested non-target, non-listed (i.e., not an endangered or threatened species) organism, including birds, honeybees, and terrestrial plants.

EPA is committed to making progress on protecting endangered species, including conducting analyses and putting mitigations in place earlier in the registration process. For ipflufenoquin, EPA evaluated potential effects to federally endangered or threatened species (“listed species”) and their designated critical habitats.

EPA has determined that iplufenoquin will have no effect on listed species except for listed terrestrial plants and those species that have an obligate relationship (i.e., needed for survival) with a terrestrial plant species. EPA has not yet made a final effects determination for listed terrestrial plants and those listed species that have an obligate relationship and is gathering additional information in order to make this decision.

EPA will accept public comments on this proposal via docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0225 at www.regulations.gov for 15 days.