Farmers who use diazinon are being asked to contribute data
about how the organophosphate may, or may not, affect them. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is continuing its
reassessment of the organophosphates and carbamates used for
plant protection purposes and, having considered each of the
active ingredients, has made proposals which can be commented
on. Diazinon, an organophosphate, has several important uses for
farmers, which is why EPA is considering a 10-year phase out,
rather than immediate withdrawal of the chemical, despite
concerns for human health. The ultimate decision lies with the
EPA decision-making committee, which will base its decision on
science and submissions. The proposed 10-year period gives
scientists and manufacturers time to produce new, tested,
alternative products and allows for the collection of
information on the human health effects and ways to mitigate
them. If sufficient new data is collected, the EPA may be
approached to reconsider reassessing this agrichemical. As