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 The decision is a victory for environmental activists who have
fought to stop the use of the chemical that is applied to crops
ranging from corn and soybeans to Brussels sprouts and broccoli.
"EPA is taking an overdue step to protect public health," said EPA
Administrator Michael Regan. "Ending the use of chlorpyrifos on food
will help to ensure children, farmworkers, and all people are
protected from the potentially dangerous consequences of this
pesticide."
Chlorpyrifos has been used as a pesticide since 1965 on farms and in
non-agricultural areas such as golf courses, according to the EPA.
However, applications have declined due to state restrictions,
reduced production and the development of alternative products, the
agency said.
The EPA banned the use of chlorpyrifos in 2015 under President
Barack Obama after the agency decided it could not be certain
whether exposure to the chemical in food and water would be harmful.
But President Donald Trump's EPA reversed the decision and said
there was not enough evidence to link exposure to chlorpyrifos to
children's health issues.
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 "EPA is finally following its
own findings on this poisonous pesticide," said
Allison Johnson, an attorney for the Natural
Resources Defense Council.
Last year, California prohibited farmers from
using chlorpyrifos products and manufacturers
from selling them due to health concerns.
Corteva Inc, the world's largest manufacturer of
the chemical, in 2020 said it would stop
producing chlorpyrifos because of declining
sales.
(Reporting by Tom Polansek, Editing by Franklin
Paul and Grant McCool)
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