Pesticide Product Registration: Applications for New Uses (February 2026)

Clayton Myers, Acting Director at the United States Department of Agriculture, supports the proposed new use of sulfur dioxide on figs. He argues that sulfur dioxide is an effective fumigant for controlling gray mold, which causes significant postharvest losses for fig growers due to the fruit's short shelf life.

The commenter urges the EPA to carefully evaluate and potentially deny the proposed new use of sulfur dioxide as a fungicide on figs. They express concerns regarding increased environmental and human exposure, requesting more thorough assessments of risks to farmworkers, wildlife, and pollinators.