Despite the EPA acceptance of chlorpyrifos in the face of a ban by California and the EU, Corteva Agriscience has decided to cease producing the pesticide. Suzanne Wasson, President of Crop Protection stated “It was a business decision, but we don’t feel like it’s viable going forward.” Chlorpyrifos has been sold for at least four decades, but it has been implicated in neurologic problems, especially in children.
Given the time since the compound was introduced, Corteva no longer has patent protection on an international basis, allowing other companies will produce generic versions of chlorpyrifos. Current Federal regulations will allow the compound to be sold as a generic in states not imposing bans in the face of considerable opposition from environmental and public health associations.