Comment submitted by V. J. Piccirillo, Chairman, Ziram Task Force

On behalf of the Ziram Task Force (EPA Consortium no. 62405) comprised of Taminco and Cerexagri, I am responding to the April 26, 2006 Federal Register notice regarding Proposed Tolerance Actions for several pesticides including ziram. The notice indicates that "Because the last food-use for ziram use on quince was cancelled in 1996, and the tolerance is no longer needed, EPA is proposing to revoke the tolerance in 40 CFR 180.116 for ziram residues in or on quince." The Ziram Task Force requests that the tolerance on quince be maintained as this may be a crop of interest in the future. Quince is part of the Crop Group 11- Pome Fruits which included apples and pears. Both of these commodities have been supported through reregistration and the tolerances have been maintained. The crop residue trials for apples and pears support a crop group tolerance that would include quince.