The 4-day reentry interval was determined somewhat arbitrarilydue to a lack of data on worker exposure. Subsequent studies onsome crops have indicated that the interval didn't need to be solengthy.
As a result, EPA very recently (summer 1994) approved changingthe Captan label for strawberries to shorten the reentry intervalto 24 hr. This means that workers, pick-your-own customers, andanyone else can re-enter a Captan-sprayed field only 24 hr afterspraying rather than 4 days after spraying. This change shouldmake it much more practical for growers to use Captan duringharvest if the need arises. The new label will be especiallywelcome to pick-your-own operators and those who grow day-neutralstrawberries.
Can you spray Captan according to the new regulations if youhave bags of Captan with the old (4-day reentry) label? The answeris yes - but not until you are in possession of the new, 24-hrlabel. A representative of Zeneca Ag Products, manufacturer ofCaptan, indicated that the company that will be the exclusivemarketer of Captan, Micro-Flo Co., will issue the supplementallabels in fall 1994.
They should be available in plenty of time for the 1995 strawberryseason.
It is also possible that the 4-day reentry period for Captanon apples will be modified, but no final action has been taken yet.
This article originally appeared in the September 16, 1994 issue, p. 139.
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