Thionex Insecticide received label amendment from EPA

MANA Crop Protection announced that Thionex® Insecticide (active ingredient: endosulfan) received a Section 3 registration label amendment from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The amendment removes the previous livestock feeding restrictions of apple pomace treated with Thionex. With the revision, apple pomace produced from an apple crop treated with Thionex is now approved as an alternative feed source for livestock.

Thionex is a broad spectrum foliar insecticide with a unique mode of action registered for use on a broad range of crops, including pome fruits and vegetables. Thionex controls a variety of invasive pests including aphids, apple rust mites, green fruitworm and the brown marmorated stink bug, which has caused untold losses on fruit crops across the U.S. since 1998.

"By amending the restriction, apple growers and livestock producers have an immediate solution to very different production challenges,” says Keith Miller, insecticide product manager with MANA Crop Protection. “Apple growers can continue using Thionex as an effective control measure to combat crop-damaging pests, especially the brown marmorated stick bug which can cause significant losses upon infestation. And, as an extension to that benefit, growers and apple byproduct manufacturers have the peace of mind in knowing that a crop treated with Thionex can safely enter the feed manufacturing channel in the form of apple pomace to meet demands for alternative livestock feedstuff.”

The composition of apple pomace as an alternative feed source has an energy value similar to corn and hay, but with less crude protein. With surging corn prices and regional shortages of hay, apple pomace is in high demand as cost effective solution for U.S. livestock producers.

MANA is the exclusive marketer of two formulations of the chemistry under the brand names Thionex 3EC and Thionex 50W.

Upon formal announcement of the EPA registration revision on the Thionex product label, state registration approvals are currently pending.