The following is adapted from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) memo to pesticide retailers.
EPA has issued a notice to remind retailers to stop sale of all outdoor diazinon home, lawn and garden products by December 31, 2004. It will be unlawful to sell diazinon outdoor non-agricultural use products in the United States after the end of this year. This is part of an agreement between EPA and diazinon registrants to phase out and eliminate all residential uses of the insecticide diazinon. Discontinuing diazinon use in home, lawn and garden care is part of EPA's ongoing effort under the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act to reduce the risk of pesticides, especially to children. All indoor use product registrations have been cancelled and retail sale ended on Dec. 31, 2002.
Consumers may continue to use diazinon residential products according to label directions and precautions. If consumers choose to discontinue use, they should contact their state or local hazardous waste disposal program or local solid waste collection service for information on proper disposal. Consumers are advised not to dispose of pesticides in sinks, toilets, storm drains, or any body of water.
Diazinon registrants are offering a "buy back" program from now until March 31, 2005 to assist with removing these products from the market and preventing further sales. The registrants will repurchase any unopened, unused outdoor residential products from retailers or formulators.
More information on diazinon is available at the EPA website .
This article originally appeared in the 11/5/2004 issue.
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