CLA Submits Comments on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Proposed Threatened Species Status for Monarch Butterflies

ARLINGTON, VA – Today, CropLife America (CLA) submitted comments on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or the Service)’s Proposed Threatened Species Status with Section 4(d) Rule for Monarch Butterfly and Designation of Critical Habitat (hereafter Monarch Proposed Rule or Proposed Rule). Established in 1933, CLA represents the developers, manufacturers, formulators, and distributors of plant science solutions for agriculture and pest management in the U.S. CLA’s member companies produce, sell, and distribute virtually all the pesticide and biotechnology products used by American farmers.

If the monarch is listed, it will be one of many species that will be considered as part of the Endangered Species Act (ESA or the Act) Sec. 7 review undertaken as part of pesticide registration decisions made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the authority of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). If this listing is finalized, CLA supports a 4(d) exception for pesticide use in accordance with the EPA-approved pesticide label and consistent with the approach EPA and the Service are taking to ESA compliance with regards to all other listed species. This approach, for both the monarch and other species listed in the future, will provide regulatory efficiency, a coordinated and consistent compliance approach to American farmers and other pesticide users, and help support timely and more consistent protections for all listed species.

Read the full set of comments here.