The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a favorable re-registration decision for the herbicide atrazine, paving the way for its continued use by American farmers for effective weed control in corn, grain sorghum, sugar cane and other crops. 

"This decision confirms what extensive scientific studies have shown-that atrazine meets the most stringent regulatory safety standards," said Mike Mack, president of Syngenta Crop Protection Inc.

In a teleconference to discuss highlights of its amended Interim Re-registration Eligibility Decision (IRED), EPA restated earlier conclusions-including identifying atrazine as "not likely" to cause cancer in humans-and outlined an innovative, first-of-its-kind program to monitor the health of ecosystems in streams most vulnerable to runoff.

US farmers have relied on atrazine for 45 years for cost-effective, broadleaf weed control in corn, grain sorghum and sugar cane. According to Doane, it is the second most popular herbicide in the US. Data from the US Department of Agriculture show that atrazine is the most widely used herbicide in conservation tillage systems, which can reduce soil erosion by as much as 90 percent.

 Among the points in the IRED:

*          Fulfilling a requirement in a January 2003 Memorandum of Agreement with atrazine registrants, EPA announced an innovative program for monitoring atrazine levels and ecosystem health in watersheds. The tiered process-modeled on a similar approach to monitor human exposure to atrazine in drinking water-calls for initial monitoring of 40 representative sites, followed by more frequent monitoring or mitigation if certain ecological triggers are exceeded. The program, unprecedented in its sophisticated design, is further distinguished by the number of EPA offices involved in its development, including Office of Pesticide Programs, Office of Water and Office of Research and Development.

*          EPA maintained its earlier conclusion which cast doubt on any potential link between atrazine and prostate cancer, stating that an increase in prostate cancer detected in workers at the Syngenta manufacturing facility in St. Gabriel, La., is "consistent with intensive PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) testing." EPA further stated in a press advisory, "The Agency does not find any studies that would lead the Agency to conclude that potential cancer risk is likely from exposure to atrazine."

*          EPA echoed the opinion of its Scientific Advisory Panel regarding potential effects of atrazine on frogs, stating available studies "do not provide evidence to show that atrazine produces a consistent, reproducible effect on amphibian development." In line with EPA recommendations, Syngenta will conduct additional studies in 2004 to further examine development in frogs.

An Interim Re-registration Eligibility Decision (IRED) is a document issued by EPA in the course of re-registering a pesticide.  EPA plans to issue the tolerance reassessment and final re-registration decision for atrazine in 2005-06, once cumulative risks for all triazine herbicides are considered.

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2002 were approximately US $6.2 billion. Syngenta employs some 20,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in London (SYA), New York (SYT) and Stockholm (SYN).