*
                United States
                Environmental Protection
                Agency
                                                 Office of Prevention, Pesticides  21T-100x
                                                 And Toxic Substances    ,    June 1992
                                                 (H-7508W)          51tO/FS~92-210
                R.E.D.   FACTS
                                                                  3201
                Allium  sativunrr°s5:t;:"aA=Nw
                (GARLIC)
     Pesticide      All pesticides sold or used in the United States must be registered by
Reregistration  EPA, based on scientific studies showing that they can be used without
                posing unreasonable risks to people or the environment. Because of
                advances in scientific knowledge, the law requires that pesticides which
                were first registered years ago be reregistered to ensure that they meet
                today's more stringent standards.
                    In  evaluating pesticides for reregistration, EPA obtains and reviews a
                complete set of studies from pesticide producers, showing the human health
                and environmental effects of each pesticide.  The Agency imposes any
                regulatory controls that are needed to effectively manage each pesticide's
                risks. EPA then reregisters pesticides that can be used without posing
                undue hazards to human health or the environment.
                    When a pesticide is eligible for reregistration, EPA announces this
                and explains why in a Reregistration Eligibility Document, or RED.  This
                feet sheet summarizes the information in the RED for Allium sativum
                (garlic).
   Use Profile
                                Allium sativum or garlic, formulated as a powder or a distilled
                           extract from garlic cloves, is an active ingredient in four registered
                           pesticide products; three of these products also contain the active ingredient
                           capsaicin (red pepper).  The garlic pesticides are applied aerially or by
                           ground equipment, and are used to repel birds and/or insects and thus
                           prevent them from damaging seeds and seedlings of vegetable plants, fruit
                           trees, grain crops, ornamental  plants and shrubbery.
   Regulatory       EPA registered the first two pesticide products containing garlic as an
      History   active ingredient in 1983 and 1985. Both products also contain red pepper,
                and are used to repel birds.  A third garlic and red pepper product, used to
                repel insects, was registered in 1988. The fourth product, which contains
                garlic as a single active ingredient, was registered in February 1991, also
                to control insects.

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                             EPA previously classified garlic as a conventional chemical pesticide.
                        However, the Agency now is reclassifying garlic as a biochemical pesticide
                        since it is a naturally-occurring substance and has a non-toxic mode of
                        action.
     Human Health
And Environmental
        Assessment
    Additional Data
           Required
      Although EPA has developed a set of data requirements for
reregistration, the Agency believes there is a category of pesticides for
which a reduced set of data requirements are appropriate.  Such pesticides
may be exempt from the usual generic data requirements for toxicology,
residue chemistry, human exposure, ecological effects and environmental
fete, without compromising human health or environmental safety.
However, some data requirements (such as basic product identity and
product chemistry data) usually are essential, and generally will not be
waived.
      Garlic is in this category of pesticides, and EPA is waiving most of
the generic data requirements for its reregistration. The bulb of a plant, its
primary use in the United States is non-pesticidal; it is used widely to
flavor and season foods. Garlic is "generally recognized as safe," or
GRAS, as a natural seasoning or flavoring  (see 21 CFR 182.10, 182.20
and 184.1317).
      Used as a pesticide, garlic has a non-toxic mode of action for
repelling target birds and insects.  Garlic is presumed to be non-persistent
since it is  material known to rapidly degrade in the environment.  EPA has
received no reports of adverse effects resulting from its use.  The Agency
believes that no  significant adverse effects to humans or the environment
are associated with the use of garlic as a pesticide.

      EPA is  not requiring  tha submission of additional
generic data for tha activa ingradiant  garlic.   Hovavar,
EPA in  raquiring tha submission of product spacific data
(chemistry,  acuta toxicity and  afficacy).   Thasa ara being
raquirad now, through tha  RED
  Product Labeling        The labels of the four registered garlic pesticide products must
 Changes Required   comply with EPA's current pesticide labeling requirements.  No other
                        labeling changes are being required at this time.
         Regulatory
         Conclusion
      •  The registered bird and insect repellent uses of garlic are not
likely to cause unreasonable adverse effects in people or the environment,
and are eligible for reregistration.
      •  The registered product that contains garlic as its only active
ingredient will be reregistered once product-specific data and amended
labeling are received and accepted by EPA.

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                     • The other three registered products that contain both garlic and
                red pepper as active ingredients will be reregistered after product specific
                data and labeling requested in this RED are received and accepted by EPA
                and after a RED is issued for red pepper.
   For More
Information
     EPA is requesting public comments on the Reregistration Eligibility
Document (RED) for garlic during a 60-day time period, as announced in a
Notice of Availability published in the Eedsol Register. To obtain a copy
of the RED or to submit written comments, please contact the Public
Response and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (H-
7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), US EPA, Washington, DC
20460, telephone 703-305-5805.
     In the future,  the garlic RED will be available from the National
Technical Information Service (NTTS),  5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield,
VA 22161, telephone 703-487-4650.
     For more information about garlic or about EPA's pesticide
reregistration program, please contact the Special Review and
Reregistration Division (H-7508W), OPP,  US EPA, Wellington, DC
20460, telephone 703-308-8000.  For information about reregistration of
individual garlic products, please contact the Registration Division, PM
Team 14 (H-7505C), OPP, US EPA, Wishington,  DC 20460, telephone
703-305-6600.
     For information about the health  effects of pesticides, or for
assistance in recognizing and  managing pesticide poisoning symptoms,
please contact the National Pesticides Telecommunications Network
(NPTN). Call toll-free 1-800-858-7378, 24  hours a day, seven days a
week, or Fax your inquiry to  806-743-3094.

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