Federal appellate justices reviewing EPA's decision to eliminate safe residue levels for the pesticide carbofuran are suggesting that the complexity of the issue and deference to federal agencies may outweigh industry's objection to the agency's prohibition, though they opened the door to vacating a ban on food imports that contain chemical residue.rnAt March 22 oral arguments, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard industry's challenge to EPA's 2008 decision to revoke the residue tolerances for carbofuran. EPA's decision effectively barred the use of the chemical on crops grown domestically or abroad for the American market. The agency also rejected industry's request for an administrative law judge hearing on its decision.
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