The German chemical company Bayer AG does not intend to stop selling the widely used insecticide Belt in the US. EPA’s request to voluntarily recall Belt because the chemical could harm wildlife in waterways was rejected by Bayer’s agricultural division.
Bayer Crop Science said Friday that it will instead ask for Belt’s product registration to be reviewed by an Environmental Protection Agency administrative law judge, at the agency’s Office of General Counsel.
“The company believes the methods used by the EPA exaggerate environmental risk and would deny farmers access to a critical pest management tool,” Bayer said in a statement.
Belt, the trade name for flubendiamide, was launched in 2008 and is approved for use on more than 200 types of crops, including soybeans, almonds and oranges. Bayer said the insecticide has exhibited “strong pest performance, favorable environmental and toxicological profile and an excellent fit in integrated pest management programs.”