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TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today reminded builders, pest control operators and consumers that insecticides containing a particular active ingredient -- chlorpyrifos -- cannot be used for termite control as of January 1, 2006. At one time this product was the most widely used method for termite protection, but this use has been removed as a result of a federal registration action. The department has removed all products containing chlorpyrifos from the list of products registered for termite protection on its web site.

This action does not affect other legal uses of the product. Pest control products containing chlorpyrifos can still be used as an insecticide for one of the other uses found on the label of the product, including treating underground utility cable and conduit (non-residential), utility poles and fence posts (non-residential), treatment of railroad ties, landscape timbers, logs, pallets, and other wood products in manufacturing, industrial, or right-of-way settings, and pest control on outside surfaces and around buildings in industrial sites such as commercial facilities, office buildings, and other non-residential buildings.

For information on the registered termiticides approved for preventive treatment of termites, please consult the table of "Termiticides Registered in Florida for Preventive Treatment of New Construction" located at

Pest control companies and consumers who have products that can no longer be used for termite control can take advantage of the "Operation Cleansweep" program operated jointly by the department and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This program will collect and dispose of cancelled, suspended, or unusable pesticides at no cost (with some exceptions).

Consumers with questions about pest control should call the department's toll-free help line at 1-800-HELPFLA (1-800-435-7352) for information.