The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it is denying a 2008 petition submitted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to cancel 2,4-D and revoke all of its tolerances.  EPA conducted a thorough evaluation of all the available data, the public comments and various new studies.  The agency found no concern and, as a result, will not re-open the safety assessment of 2,4-D.

2,4-D is a common systemic herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds.  It is registered for use on a variety of food/feed sites, including field, fruit and vegetable crops.  2,4-D is also registered for use on turf, lawns, rights-of-way, aquatic sites, forestry applications and is used as a plant growth regulator in citrus.  Residents and professional applicators may also use 2,4-D on home lawns. 

Annual domestic 2,4-D usage is approximately 46 million pounds, with 30 million pounds (66 percent) used by agriculture and 16 million pounds (34 percent) used in non-agricultural settings.

 The link to EPA’s release on its decision is here.