Chlorpyrifos use in Minnesota
Chlorpyrifos pesticides have faced significant regulatory changes over the past few years. The most recent change came in September 2024, when the EPA approved amended product labels reflecting the reduced number of approved food/feed crops, geographic restrictions on use, and application limitations. In Minnesota, only alfalfa, soybeans, sugar beets, and winter wheat retained their approved uses.
Pesticide users should be aware of key regulatory deadlines impacting the sale, distribution, and use of chlorpyrifos:
- April 30, 2025 – Sale and distribution of certain chlorpyrifos products should have ceased, except for export or disposal.
- June 30, 2025 – Use of existing stock for food and feed purposes were prohibited. However, non-food uses may continue within a two-year post-cancellation period unless additional EPA restrictions are enacted.
In Minnesota, the MDA has conditionally registered several chlorpyrifos products for use in 2025. During this transition period, users must ensure proper application in accordance with labeling requirements:
- Products with old labeling – After June 30, 2025, these may only be used for non-food purposes.
- Products with new labeling – These may still be used for food purposes, provided they comply with updated EPA guidelines.
For a list of the products affected by the regulatory deadlines listed above and the most up-to-date information on chlorpyrifos, visit the EPA’s Chlorpyrifos FAQs page.
Chlorpyrifos BMPs can be found on the Pesticide Best Management Practices page.
The sale and use of chlorpyrifos products remains restricted to products currently registered in the state of Minnesota. Please check the MDA’s Registered Product Search.
Use of products that are not actively registered in Minnesota may result in enforcement action by the MDA.
Final Scoping Document for Chlorpyrifos Special Registration Review Posted
Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide widely used in Minnesota to manage a variety of arthropod pests. Chlorpyrifos also is a source of contamination in multiple surface water bodies throughout the state.and can pose a substantial risk to human health and the environment. As of June 2020, 13 surface water bodies in Minnesota were proposed for designation by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) or designated as impaired by the EPA due to chlorpyrifos water quality standard violations. In 2012, the commissioner of agriculture designated chlorpyrifos as a “surface water pesticide of concern.” Chlorpyrifos exposure can lead to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and neurodevelopmental effects in humans. Thus, the commissioner has directed the Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division to conduct an in-depth special registration review of chlorpyrifos.
The MDA wrote a draft scoping document in collaboration with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Health, and the University of Minnesota to define the focus and topics for consideration of the special registration review of chlorpyrifos. The draft scoping document was made available for a 60-day public comment period (from July 20 to September 17, 2020). The MDA received public comments from 11 groups or individuals. They were thoroughly reviewed, and minor revisions were made to the scoping document. The revised, final, scoping document will be used to guide the review. Documents related to the scoping document can be found below.
- State Register announcement (Volume 45, Number 37)
- Draft - Chlorpyrifos Special Registration Review Scoping Document (PDF)
- Revised, final - Chlorpyrifos Special Registration Review Scoping Document (PDF)
- Public Comments (PDF)
- The MDA's response to public comments (PDF)
Questions and/or requests for more information may be emailed to:
- Theresa Cira (Theresa.Cira@state.mn.us), or
- Raj Mann (Rajinder.Mann@state.mn.us)
Minnesota farmers who have chlorpyrifos insecticide products made by two manufacturers can now arrange to return the products. Corteva Agriscience and ADAMA US have been given permission by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take back the chemicals.
The MDA cancelled chlorpyrifos product registrations for use on food and feed on January 1, 2022, in conjunction with the EPA cancelling all food and feed tolerances for chlorpyrifos in the U.S. A “tolerance” represents the maximum level of pesticide residue legally allowed in or on raw agricultural commodities and processed food and feed. Without tolerance levels, food and feed are considered adulterated when the product is found on them. This has stopped the use of chlorpyrifos on all food and feed and made it illegal to use, sell, or distribute any of these products.
Individuals with existing products listed below should contact their distributor or retailer to arrange for returns to Corteva or ADAMA. Additional information can be found on the Regulations.gov website or by contacting ADAMA an 866-406-6262 or ordergroup@adama.com, or Corteva at 800-258-3033.
Those with existing stocks of other chlorpyrifos products with no available uses should continue to store the product according to label directions. If you have chlorpyrifos products that need to be disposed of, check with your dealer, co-op, or ag retailer to see if they will take back products. If they will not, please use the MDA's Waste Pesticide Collection Program. For volumes of more than 300 pounds, call MDA’s Jane Boerboom at 612-214-6843. If other disposal or product return options become available, the MDA will provide more information on the Waste Pesticide Collection Program website.
| Brand Name | EPA Reg. No. |
|---|---|
| Lorsban 15G | 62719–34 |
| Lorsban-4E | 62719–220 |
| Lorsban 50W in Water Soluble Packets | 62719–221 |
| Lorsban 75WG | 62719–301 |
| Cobalt | 62719–575 |
| Lorsban Advanced | 62719–591 |
| Cobalt Advanced | 62719–615 |
| Hatchet | 62719-220 |
| Govern 4E Insecticide | 62719-220-55467 |
| Agrisolutions Yuma 4E | 62719-220-1381 |
| Whirlwind | 62719-220-5905 |
| Lorsban 75WG | 62719-301-10163 |
| Brand Name | EPA Reg. No. |
|---|---|
| Chlorpyrifos 4E Ag | 66222-19 |
| Vulcan | 66222-233 |
| Quali-Pro Chlorpryfios 4E | 66222-19 |
With revocation of tolerances, farmers will need to consider alternative insecticides or other management tactics for crop pests. In collaboration with the University of Minnesota, the MDA published an article on Alternatives for Management of Key Minnesota Crop Pests. The following extension crop and pest management guides provide extensive lists of products available for management of pests but are not Minnesota-specific. Always use the MDA's Registered Product Search to check if products are registered for use in Minnesota and read the label before use.
- Field crops- North Dakota Field Crop Insect Management Guide (PDF) (North Dakota State University)
- Vegetables- Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2022 (Purdue University)
- Fruit- Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide 2023-2024 (Purdue University)
- Other crops- Towards Safer and More Sustainable Alternatives to Chlorpyrifos: An action plan for California
Please contact University of Minnesota Extension for any questions about alternative pest management options for specific crop pests.
