WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced July 6 that, as part of a coalition of six state attorneys general, he has intervened in a lawsuit to force the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to effectively ban Chlorpyrifos, a toxic pesticide.
Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide commonly used on foods eaten by infants, young children and pregnant women. According to Racine’s office, studies show the pesticide has a negative effect on proper brain and central nervous system development.
The EPA moved to ban Chlorpyrifos during the Obama administration, alleging the pesticide presents a risk that does not meet the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act’s (Food Act) safety standard. The Trump administration EPA, however, revoked that decision.
“The EPA already has collected ample evidence that this is a toxic chemical that is dangerous to children and pregnant women,” Racine said. “Our job is to protect district residents, who consume food produced in many other parts of the United States. We simply want the EPA to do its job and make sure our food crops are safe from these chemicals.”