April 10, 2000 sees Congressional Record publish “INTRODUCTION OF BILL TO REDUCE TEMPORARILY THE DUTY ON FIPRONIL TECHNICAL”

Volume 146, No. 44 covering the 2nd Session of the 106th Congress (1999 - 2000) was published by the Congressional Record.

The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.

“INTRODUCTION OF BILL TO REDUCE TEMPORARILY THE DUTY ON FIPRONIL TECHNICAL” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E523 on April 10, 2000.

The publication is reproduced in full below:

INTRODUCTION OF BILL TO REDUCE TEMPORARILY THE DUTY ON FIPRONIL

TECHNICAL

______

HON. WILLIAM J. JEFFERSON

of louisiana

in the house of representatives

Monday, April 10, 2000

Mr. JEFFERSON. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing legislation to reduce the ad valorem duty on the active ingredient used in a product known as fipronil technical, an insecticide registered for use on dozens of crops, in the animal health industry to control fleas and ticks, and most importantly in urban pest control to stop the spread of destructive termites.

As many of my colleagues know, the entire Gulf Coast is under attack by Formosan termites. The invasion is costing homeowners, businesses and local governments hundreds of millions annually. Biologists have traced these insatiable termites to twelve states. In my district--New Orleans--Formosan termites have caused more damage than tornadoes, hurricanes and floods combined. Experts trace the migration of these voracious termites to the continental United States back to the return of World War II cargo ships from the Far East to ports throughout the country. Since then, the Formosan termite has increased beyond control, infesting trees, homes and other buildings. Traditional forms of pesticides do not work on this termite and while efforts are underway to develop a termiticide that will eradicate the Formosan pests, we must also consider new products.

We have been working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and with manufacturers of pest control products to bring new products to the market to help us in our efforts to stop these destructive insects. A new product, fipronil, was officially registered for use by the EPA just last September and is being introduced into the market this month. This new product is applied to the perimeter of buildings and within three months the termites have died. The chemical is a non-

repellent so the insects carry it to the nest and contaminate it before the other termites can detect it. Other products take much longer to produce results and are more labor intensive.

Fipronil has no domestic producer which would be disadvantaged by the tariff reduction and other termiticides do not work in the same way that fipronil does. Fipronil has also been approved for use in treating trees. We are losing our old historic trees in New Orleans at an alarming rate to the Formosan termites. This product gives us hope that we will be able to stop this attack.

My bill allows the makers of this product to bring the active ingredient into the United States at a reduced tariff rate. The product is finished, packaged and used in the U.S. creating jobs in both the manufacturing side as well as the pest control industry.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this proposal.

____________________

SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 146, No. 44