UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

## OCT 162DM

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION l\1EMORANDUM
SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Forchlorfenuron (128819) FROM:

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TO: Carl Chen, PlantPathologist Biological Analysis Branch Cynthia Doucoure, Environmental Protection Specialist ().

### ~ Science Information and Analysis Branch Stephen Smearman, Economist 

# 1A.A 1..**-~** Economic Analysis Branch

### ~ Biological and Economic Analysis Division (7503P) AmetJones, Chief Biological Analysis Branc Diann Sims,

# Chief**~** Science Information and Analysis Branch 

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### ~ Timothy Kiely, Chief 

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## ~ .J Economic Analysis Branch Biological and Economic Analysis Division (7503P) Wilhelmena Livingston, Chemical Review Manager Risk Management and Implementation Branch IV Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P)


### Product Review Panel date: October 1, 2014

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### SUMMARY Forchlorfenuron, a plant growth regulator, was registered in July 1989 for use on grapes, bushberries, blueberries, and kiwi to improve fruit yield and quality. In April2014, permanent tolerances were established for new uses offorchlorfenuron on almond, sweet cherry, fig, pear, pistachio, and plums/prunes. Available public andproprietary data sources showthat forchlorfenuron is used primarily on grapes and kiwi in the state ofCalifornia. On grapes, forchlorfenuron is used in much the same way as PGR gibberellin but less frequently because it is more expensive and because it is mainly used on grape varieties that are not tolerant of gibberellins (CA DPR, 2007). According to the July 2014 Screening Level Usage Analysis (SLUA) approximately 1,000 lb a.i. are applied annually on grapes with less than 2.5% ofgrape acreage treated annually. For kiwi, less than 500 lbs a.i. are applied annually andthe percent ofkiwi acreage treated is 25%. BEAD's search ofthe data found that for grapes andkiwi that there is very lowusage of forchlorfenuron.


### INTRODUCTION The purpose ofthis document is to convey usage information and a broad overview ofthe pest management roles ofpesticides that are beginning to undergo registration review. The anticipated audience consists ofthe team ofEPA staffcurrently evaluating the registration status offorchlorfenuron, and eventually the general public. This document builds upon the data BEAD provides in the Screening Level Usage Analysis (SLUA) to Registration Reviewteams. The document is based on information and data available to BEAD as ofJune 2014.


### HISTORY OF BEAD ASSESSMENTS FORFORCHLORFENURON BEAD prepared a Screening Level Usage Analysis (SLUA) in June 2014 that provided average percent crop treated (PCT) values for grapes (<2
.5%) andkiwifruit (25%) during the 2004-2012 timeframe. The average annual pounds a.i. applied was 1,000 lb for grapes and less than 500 lb for kiwifruit. Please n,ote that the SLUA is basedon an amalgamation ofpublicand proprietary data sources which, in this case, vary widely in their reporting of forchlorfenuron use on grapes. See the Forchlorfenuron Usage section for more information. A search ofthe BEAD database for previous BEADproducts for forchlorfenuron indicates that there are no records ofprior BEAD benefits assessments or Section 18s requests for forchlorfenuron. However, a lack ofSection 18 requests assessments does not specifically indicate the relative importance ofthe chemical in registered use sites.

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### COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS Forchlorfenuron is formulated as a soluble concentrate liquid and applied via
.ground sprays. 

### USE SITES Agricultural Use Sites: Forchlorfenuron is registered for use onbushberries, blueberries, kiwi, and grapes for fresh market (table), wine, and raisins. OnApril2, 2014, permanenttolerances were established for new uses offorchlorfenuron on almond, sweet cherry, fig, pear, pistachio, and plum/prune. Non-Agricultural Use Sites: There are no non-agricultural use sites registered for forchlorfenuron.


### FORCHLORFENURON USAGE Agricultural Usage Trend Based onthe available private and public market research, forchlorfenuron has been used consistently in very small quantities in the state ofCalifornia on grapes and kiwifruit since 2001. California classifies forchlorfenuron as a reduced risk chemical and is used inthe same way as the PGRgibberellin, but less frequently because it is more expensive and because it is typically used on only on grape varieties that are not tolerant ofgibberellins (CA DPR, 2007). BEAD's proprietary data source reports low amounts offorchlorfenuron interms oftotal pounds applied on grapes and kiwi in recent years.


### BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELEVANT TO FORCHLORFENURON Forchlorfenuron, CPPU or N-(2-chloro-4-pyridinyl)-N'-phenyl urea, is aplant growth regulator (PGR). It is currently registered for use onblueberries, bushberries, grapes, and kiwifruit. It affects cell division and canbe used to increase fruit size. Italso functions to increase fruit set, accelerate plant growth, and/ordelay maturity. Forchlorfenuron is an extremelypotent PGR, even at low application rates.


### ROLE OFFORCHLORFENURONIN PEST MANAGEMENT Based on available data, forchlorfenuron does not appearto play a major role as a plant growth regulator in· grape production in the U.S. Itis used almost exclusively in California inrelatively small quantities interms ofpounds a.i. applied with less than 2.5% ofthe table grape crop treated on average nationally. Potential factors contributing to lowuse offorchlorfenuron in grapes, according to California DPR, include the fact that it is expensive and used mainly on grape varieties that are nottolerant ofPGR gibberellin. For grape production in California, forchlorfenuron was one offew PGRs with reported usage data on grapes. Page 3 of4Forkiwifruitproduction in California, forchlorfenuron was introduced as a new PGRto growers in the Pest Management Strategic Plan for Kiwifruit Production in California (CKC/CMCC, 2003). Itcan be applied two to three weeks after bloom. Approximately 25 percent ofthe kiwifruitproduction acreage was treated with forchlorfenuron on average between the years 2004 to 2012 (EPA, 2014).
INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USEFUL FORBEAD'S. FUTURE WORK ON FORCHLORFENURON The Agency currently does not have certain important information on forchlorfenuron. Obtaining the following usage informationmay improve future assessments conducted bythe Agency related to the use and importance offorchlorfenuron:
• Typical use patterns (pounds a.i. applied, percent ofcrop treated, average a.i. rate) for forchlorfenuron use on all registered crops including grapes and kiwi.
REFERENCES EPA, Forchlorfenuron Screening Level Usage Analysis (SLUA), June 2014 California Department ofPesticide Regulation (DPR), Pesticide Annual Use Summaries, 2004-2012 CKC/CMCC. 2003. A Pest Management Strategic Plan (PMSP) for Kiwifruit Production in California. California Kiwifruit Commission (CKC); CaliforniaMinor Crops Council (CMCC). Available at http://www.ipmcenters.org/pmsp/pdf/CAKIWIFRUIT.PDF

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