​U.S. EPA registers new pesticide metamitron and uses a new structured label

On March 11, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered one technical and two end use plant growth regulator products containing the new active ingredient metamitron for use on apple and pear trees. Metamitron is a chemical thinning agent applied to apple and pear tree leaves shortly after the blooming stage to thin excess fruit. This allows the remaining fruit to grow larger and may contribute to higher quality fruit and plant health giving farmers an additional tool to help manage crops and grow more food for our country.

The metamitron registrations are supported by human health and ecological risk assessments as well as a biological evaluation for the pesticide under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). No human health risks of concern were identified when metamitron is used according to the label. EPA conducted an ecological risk assessment and biological evaluation under the ESA and completed an informal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). FWS concurred with EPA’s determination that the use of metamitron on apples and pears being registered is not likely to adversely affect endangered species or critical habitats.

In response to stakeholder feedback regarding a lack of clear and uniform format in labels, making it difficult to efficiently locate critical information and to use this information correctly, EPA worked with the registrant, ADAMA AGAN c/o Makhteshim Agan of North America, Inc. (ADAMA), and representatives from the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) to implement a new structured label for this product. On its own initiative, WSSA has been soliciting feedback from their membership and contacts about what would make pesticide labels easier to use and presented that information as a proposal to EPA. The two end use labels being registered at this time represent the first labels implementing the vision of this proposal. These labels are one step towards increasing the clarity of pesticide labels.

To read more about the registration of metamitron, see docket ID EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0575 at www.regulations.gov. The new structured labels will soon be available in the docket.