US Supreme Court will not review EPA's carbofuran decision

HOUSTON (ICIS)--The US Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a petition by chemicals firm FMC and three US agricultural growers groups to review an adverse appellate court ruling on the pesticide carbofuran.

A lower appellate court had upheld the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to deny an administrative hearing on the revocation of domestic tolerances for carbofuran.

"We are greatly disappointed by the US Supreme Court's decision not to review the lower court's ruling on EPA's actions, which sets a bad precedent for US agriculture," said Michael Morelli, director of global regulatory affairs with FMC’s agricultural products group.

FMC said carbofuran is a safe product after 40 years of use without a single incident of dietary or drinking water injury, he added.

Last year, when commenting on the appellate court decision, FMC had said the ruling meant there would be little chance for an independent review of EPA decisions on a compound's safety.

The National Corn Growers Association, the National Sunflower Association, the National Potato Council and FMC had jointly petitioned the US Supreme Court to review the appellate court decision.