US environmental agency approves controversial weedkiller dicamba

Washington, Oct. 28, (dpa/GNA) – The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday approved the weed killer dicamba for five years despite harsh criticism of its effects on crops.

The approvals give a green light to the XtendiMax pesticide from German manufacturer Bayer and Engenia products from another German manufacturer BASF, as well as Tavium Plus from Switzerland’s Syngenta.

“With today’s decision, farmers now have the certainty they need to make plans for their 2021 growing season,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.

The EPA’s decision is controversial – in June, selling dicamba in the US had been banned, following court rulings.

A court in San Francisco found that the EPA had made errors in the approval originally granted in 2018 and had withdrawn dicamba’s registration.

Wheeler emphasized that the approval now granted is accompanied by new control measures to ensure that the products are used safely and in an environmentally friendly manner.

Dicamba destroys not only weeds but also crops – provided they are not derived from genetically modified seeds.

The fact that the herbicide blows into neighbouring fields and damages the harvest there has led to bitter feuds between US farmers for years.

GNA