Chiquita's environmental partner, the Rainforest Alliance, claims that Chiquita's "Better Banana" certified farms "only use products that are registered for use in the United States, Canada and Europe," according to the alliance's "General Production Standards" and agreed to by Chiquita.
But the Enquirer found that Chiquita systematically uses chemical products on its certified farms that are not registered for use, meaning they are not allowed to be used, in the United States, Canada or one or more countries of the European Union.
These pesticides include:
Bitertanol, sold as Baycor:
In documents provided to the Enquirer, Chiquita
stated that it has used this product since 1993.
According to documents provided to the Enquirer by the
manufacturer - the Bayer Corporation - the pesticide is
not, and never has been, registered for use in the United
States. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
spokesman Albert Heier confirmed that bitertanol is not
approved for use in the United States on bananas or any
other crop. The pesticides' full impact on people or the
environment is not known at this time because the EPA has
not conducted tests on the product, Mr. Heier said.
In a statement issued to the Enquirer through its attorneys, Chiquita stated that company policy "allows only for the use of agrichemicals that are approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use on bananas."
Denise Kearns, spokesperson for the EPA on pesticide issues, said that the EPA has set a "tolerance level" for bitertanol, that is the level of detectable pesticide residue at which the EPA will allow a crop to be imported into the United States. But this level, set after scientific review, does not constitute approval for use in the U.S. on bananas or any other crop, Ms. Kearns said.
Bitertanol also is not registered for use in Canada, according to Antony Simpson, spokesman for Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency, the Canadian government's counterpart to the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs. The pesticide is approved for use in the European Union.
Chlorpyrifos, sold as Lorsban.
This product is widely used by Chiquita to put
in plastic bags that hang over the banana bunches as they
grow. It is registered for use in the United States.
However, the EPA is reviewing safety levels for all
organophosphate compounds, and chlorpyrifos is one
product that could be severely restricted because of
health and environmental risks, according to published
reports by the Washington State Department of
Agriculture. Last year, the EPA declared chlorpyrifos as
a "Restricted Use Product," a restriction
allowing for use only under special circumstances with
specific EPA approval.
Chlorpyrifos is not authorized for use in Finland and Sweden, according to European Union government reports.
Carbofuran, sold as Furadan:
This pesticide is used to combat nematodes,
small worms that attack the banana plants. Chiquita has
used the product since 1975. The product is listed by the
EPA as "severely restricted" in the United
States. According to EPA documents, the product's high
risk of danger to people and the environment make it
"a pesticide for which virtually all registered uses
have been prohibited by final government regulatory
action," but it can still be used in some special
cases. The product also is severely restricted in Canada,
according to Health Canada. Its use is not authorized in
Finland.
Ethoprop, sold as Mocap:
This organophosphate also is registered for use
in the United States but is being reviewed by EPA. Like
chlorpyrifos it has been singled out as facing severe
restrictions, according to the Washington State
Department of Agriculture. Ethoprop is not registered for
use in Canada, according to Health Canada. It is not
authorized for use in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and
Luxembourg, according to European Union government
reports.
Terbufos, sold as Counter:
This product is registered for use in the U.S.,
but it is being reviewed by EPA for possible
restrictions. It is not authorized for use in Finland,
Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Portugal
according to European Union government reports.
Azoxystrobin, sold as Bankit:
This fungicide used in aerial spraying is not registered
for use in Canada, according to Health Canada.
Imazalil, sold as Fungaflor:
This fungacide, applied to bananas before
shipment, is not registered for use in Canada, according
to Health Canada.
Tridemorph, sold as Calixin:
This fungicide used in aerial spraying is not
registered for use in Canada, according to Health Canada.
It is not authorized for use in Finland, Sweden, Denmark
and Portugal.
Where chemicals are approved for use
Chiquita's environmental partner, the Rainforest Alliance, has regulations to which Chiquita has agreed that state the company cannot use chemicals on its alliance certified banana farms that are not authorized for use in the U.S., Canada and Europe. But according to Chiquita's own list of approved pesticides, it does.
Chemicals: Azoxystrobin
Sold as: Bankit
Type: Fungicide
Used for: Black Sigatoka
Authorized for use in: U.S.: Yes Canada: No European Union*: UnknownChemicals: Bitertanol
Sold as: Baycor
Type: Fungicide
Used for: Black Sigatoka
Authorized for use in: U.S.: No Canada: No European Union*: YesChemicals: Carbofuran
Sold as: Furadan
Type: Nematicide
Used for: Nematodes
Authorized for use in: U.S.: Yes Canada: Yes European Union*: NoChemicals: Chlorpyrifos
Sold as: Lorsban
Type: Insecticide
Used for: Insects
Authorized for use in: U.S.: Yes Canada: Yes European Union*: No
Chemicals: Ethoprop
Sold as: Mocap
Type: Nematicide
Used for: Nematodes
Authorized for use in: U.S.: Yes Canada: No European Union*: NoChemicals: Imazalil
Sold as: Fungaflor
Type: Fungaflor
Used for: Crown Rot organisms
Authorized for use in: U.S.: Yes Canada: No European Union*: YesChemicals: Terbufos
Sold as: Counter
Type: Nematicide
Used for: Nematodes
Authorized for use in: U.S.: Yes Canada: Yes European Union*: NoChemicals: Tridemorph
Sold as: Calixin
Type: Fungicide
Used for: Black Sigatoka
Authorized for use in: U.S.: Yes Canada: No European Union*: No
* A "no" in this column means that one or more of the 15 nations of the European Union do not authorize the use of this chemical on its farms.
Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health Canada and European Union reports.
(Copyright 1998)
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