Amy E. Brown, Professor, Department of Entomology
DATE: 06/29/2017
ISSUE: Adulterated Organic Pesticide Products
After discovering the presence of five synthetic pesticide active ingredients which were not listed on the labels of two registered organic pesticide products, the Oregon Department of Agriculture stopped the sale, use, and distribution of those products in Oregon.
The products are: PBI-Gordon/ Azatrol Hydro Botanical Insecticide and Azatrol EC. Both products have the EPA Reg. No. 2217-836.
While these five conventional active ingredients can be used on a variety of ornamental, food, and feed crops safely, they were not identified on the labels of these two products and this constitutes misbranding and adulterated product. The non-declared conventional pesticides in the two organic pesticide products are: quantifiable levels of permethrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, and chlorpyrifos. Malathion was not detected at a quantifiable level.
The two pesticide products under investigation are approved for organic use by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and are allowed in organic production. Part of ODA’s core mission is to protect producers across the state and ensure that they have confidence in the tools available to them. ODA has suspended the sale, use, and distribution of the two products while a full investigation is underway.
