[Regulatory Update] Industry Reacts to EPA’s Proposed Withdrawl of Sulfuryl Fluoride

The pest management industry, along with more than 50 trade associations, food processors, university researchers, distributors, manufacturers, and the Department of Agriculture, has responded in force to object to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed withdrawal of food tolerances for fluoride and sulfuryl fluoride.

The proposed withdrawal would leave pest management professionals and their food industry customers without a treatment alternative for eliminating insects and rodents in many food-processing and -storage facilities.

If allowed to become reality, the proposed action could have a ripple effect on the availability, quality, safety, and price of food for consumers.
 

A Little History. The action was spurred by the Fluoride Action Network, a Canton, N.Y.-based group that has waged a lengthy campaign to remove sulfuryl fluoride usage in food-processing facilities. The group claims the use of sulfuryl fluoride fumigant will introduce unacceptable levels of fluoride to consumers and can cause medical risks, mainly dental fluorosis, a condition where overexposure to fluoride can damage the enamel on teeth.

The group's website, while acknowledging most processed foods will not be fumigated, described the situation as "playing Russian roulette" and consumers will not know if the foods they are eating have been treated.

EPA opened public comment on the proposed three year phase out in January and closed comments on July 5.

Sulfuryl fluoride, which is used for food processing and commodities came into prominence in 2004 as an alternative to methyl bromide which drew criticism for its contributions to ozone layer depletion. Marketed by Dow AgroSciences under the product name ProFume, sulfuryl fluoride has been used as a structural fumigant in hundreds of facilities for years.

It is approved for direct treatment to harvested and processed food commodities such as cereal grains, dried fruit, tree nuts, coffee and cocoa beans, and has proven to be an effective treatment option in grain and food processing, and storage operations.
 

Reaction. Reaction to the proposed phase out has been strong both inside and outside the industry.

The National Pest Management Association led the industry's response and numerous food industry groups with an interest in maintaining a pest-free environment in their operations, submitted comments, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Seed Trade Association, Cocoa Merchants Association of America, North American Millers Association, and the USA Rice Federation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also weighed in, stating domestic and imported agriculture industries would be negatively impacted by the action, and it questioned the efficacy and practicality of the suggested EPA alternatives which include the use of phosphine gas, heat treatments, and micro-cleaning strategies.

While some of these strategies are currently employed by pest management professionals in various food industry accounts, there are limitations. For example, phosphine gas cannot be used in food processing accounts with high-tech or digital equipment because of the corrosive nature of the gas. It would eliminate the pests, but could cause serious damage to equipment, most of which carries a hefty price tag.

The same goes for heat. The industry performs heat treatments for various pests, but heat isn't suited for all accounts. For example, many flour mill operations, because they are older and the buildings not as "tight," cannot hold heat in and thus the treatment would be ineffective. Heat could also damage equipment in some facilities.

"If sulfuryl fluoride is taken away you are back to some very basic treatment strategies and, quite frankly, a lot of throwing away of food that has become infested or falls short of food industry and consumer standards," said Russ Ives, president of Rose Pest Solutions and a member of the Copesan which services commercial food facilities across the country. "It is important for the pest management industry to keep this significant treatment tool available."
 

EPA Perspective. The National Resources Defense Council, an organization that has had strong objections to the use of methyl bromide in the past, commented that while it supports the denial of the stay of sulfuryl fluoride tolerances, it opposed EPA's actions for uses where the agency has not come up with a safe and effective treatment alternative. In addition to the comments submitted to EPA, prominent members of Congress have asked EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson why EPA undertook the action and why it failed to take into account the harm and risk it poses to maintaining a pest-free, safe food supply.

Many industry observers say EPA did not research the issue as thoroughly as it should have and this is a situation where a legalistic interpretation of a statute threatens to override practicality. Even EPA acknowledges food-processing and -handling facilities, and the pest management professionals who service them, depend on sulfuryl fluoride to maintain a pest-free environment. All of which only makes industry representatives shake their head.

"Ninety-seven percent of a person's exposure to fluoride comes naturally or from dental products and treated water," said NPMA Senior Vice President Bob Rosenberg. "Fumigation residues constitute only three percent of a person's total exposure."

Rosenberg added the industry would like to know why EPA chose to address the issue of excessive fluoride exposure through the use of sulfuryl fluoride, which makes up a small percentage of a consumers exposure, and not the other areas such as toothpaste and drinking water.

"EPA acted with a degree of reluctance in this matter and did what they thought they were required to do by law," said Rosenberg. "Hopefully with the comments provided by this large coalition, we have given them some options to come up with a solution without compromising public health."

The author is partner of B Communications, www.b-communications.com, an integrated communications/marketing firm specializing in the needs of pest management professionals. He can be reached at jfenner@giemedia.com.