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PA EPA ISSUES FULL COMMERCIAL USE OF FIELD CORN PLANT PEST.

Release Date: 8/16/96
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PA EPA ISSUES FULL COMMERCIAL USE OF FIELD CORN PLANT PEST.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1996

EPA ISSUES CONDITIONAL APPROVAL FOR FULL COMMERCIAL USE OF
FIELD CORN PLANT-PESTICIDE TARGETING THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER

EPA has approved the full commercial use of a new plantpesticide to combat insect damage in field corn. The plant-pesticide is "Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) CryIA(b) delta-endotoxin and the genetic material necessary for its production in corn." The primary pest to be controlled is the European corn borer. This action allows full commercial use of Northrup King's Bt corn, subject to certain use restrictions in cotton states and cottongrowing areas. The restrictions are designed to reduce a possible developed resistance to Bt by the corn earworm. Corn earworm resistance could reduce the effectiveness of Bt cotton and Bt foliar sprays on vegetables and other crops. EPA's registration is based on a thorough examination of scientific data to ensure human health and the environment are protected. The registration is limited to commercial field corn which is primarily used in animal feed. Northrup King, Golden Valley, Minn., is the registrant and developer of the corn-plant pesticide. The plant-pesticide is a truncated version of the naturally occurring Bt endotoxin. Very small quantities of the insecticidal protein are produced by the corn plant. The insecticidal protein is nontoxic to mammals, birds and most other insects. The use of this product is expected to reduce the use of more toxic pesticides used to control insects on corn plants. Last year, EPA approved the first commercial use of Bacillus thuringiensis plant pesticides. The following crop plants were approved in 1995 and are in use: Bt corn (two companies, Ciba Seeds and Mycogen Plant Sciences); Bt potatoes (Monsanto Co.) and Bt cotton (Monsanto Co.). The plant-pesticide developed by Northrup King differs from previously-approved Bt corn products in its genetic composition and in the levels of the pesticide that are expressed in different parts of the corn plant.

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