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Senate AEN committee hears testimony for and against banning fumigant 1,3‑D (Talon)
Summary
Public-health groups urged a ban on the fumigant 1,3‑D (marketed as Talon), citing cancer and drift risks; industry witnesses including Dole warned of job losses and said no registered alternatives exist for pineapple. The committee postponed decisions for lack of quorum.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment heard competing testimony March 20 on HB1880HD3, a bill that would prohibit applications of 1,3‑dichloropropene (commonly called 1,3‑D and referred to in testimony as Talon) beginning Jan. 1, 2030.
Chris Coffield of the Hawaii Public Health Institute told the committee that federal and international scientific bodies classify the active ingredient as a probable or possible human carcinogen and that 1,3‑D is a volatile fumigant that can move through the air and expose farmworkers, nearby families and children. "The science on this is clear," Coffield said, arguing prevention is essential and that safer alternatives exist.
Industry witnesses pushed back. Scott Enright of the Western Plant Health Association urged the committee to rely on existing federal and state pesticide safeguards and said the fumigant remains necessary for pineapple production in Hawaii. "If growers don’t have this crop protection, they’re not gonna continue to crop pineapple in Hawaii," Enright said.
Daniel Nellis of Dole Food Company said he submitted written testimony and a petition and that Dole employs roughly 150 to 200 workers; he warned a ban could lead to job losses and end local pineapple production. "There are no commercially viable effective alternatives for Tolon that are registered for use in pineapple," Nellis said, asking the committee to reconsider the bill in light of economic and labor consequences.
Anne Frederick of HAPA urged lawmakers to follow the state’s prior action on other pesticides and cited reporting that shows heavy fumigant use of 1,3‑D; she noted it is listed as a probable carcinogen and said it is banned in about 40 countries. Frederick also told the committee that Dole appears to be the primary remaining local user of the fumigant.
Clerks reported 73 written/testimony supports, seven opposed and two comments on HB1880; a testifier asked that the record additionally reflect a petition with 95 signatures opposing the bill. No committee vote was taken; the chair said the matter would be reconvened and decision-making was postponed because the committee did not have a quorum.
The committee scheduled reconvening for Wednesday, March 25 at 3:05 p.m. in room 224 to continue consideration of HB1880.
