A Reminder of Chlorpyrifos Expiration

In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revoked all food and feed tolerances for the pesticide chlorpyrifos. All tolerances for the insecticide officially ended as of February 28, 2022. This effectively bans the use of the pesticide on food and feed crops.

Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate insecticide, is the active ingredient in several products including Lorsban 4E, Lorsban Advanced, Cobalt, Cobalt Advanced and several generic insecticides.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) wants to remind farmers, pesticide applicators, and pesticide retailers of the expiration of chlorpyrifos. Crops that received an application of chlorpyrifos after the expiration date are considered adulterated and cannot legally be sold or used as food or feed.

Non-agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos for golf course turf, industrial sites, non-food greenhouse and nursery production, sod farms, Christmas tree farms, and wood products are not affected by this rule.

Product Disposal
To dispose of unopened products containing chlorpyrifos, contact the business that sold the product. To dispose of opened products containing chlorpyrifos, contact your local Clean Sweep to find disposal options or find a collection area that accepts hazardous waste from farms.

Agrichemical Retailers Returns
The sale and distribution of chlorpyrifos products labeled for use on food or feed crops is now considered a violation. Agrichemical retailers should work with their distributors and pesticide manufacturer representatives on return options for these products.

Click here for Wisconsin Clean Sweep information