Cartap in 2025: The Controversial Nicotinoid Still Fighting Crop Pests

1. Current Regulatory Status (July 28, 2025, 11:40)

Cartap hydrochloride, a nereistoxin analog (IRAC Group 14), remains a highly debated insecticide due to its efficacy and toxicity concerns:

• Banned in the EU (2023) and Brazil (2024) due to acetylcholinesterase inhibition risks

• Restricted in the USA: Only allowed for rice stem borers under EPA’s Section 18 emergency exemptions

• Still Widely Used in Asia:

  • China: Major producer, but new 2025 MRLs (0.02ppm for rice exports)

  • India: Dominates sugarcane borer control, but facing resistance issues

  • Vietnam: Heavy use in shrimp farming (illegally, despite aquatic toxicity)

  
  

2. Scientific & Environmental Concerns

• Human Toxicity:

  • WHO Class II (moderately hazardous) – linked to neurotoxicity in farmworkers

  • Metabolite Risks: Breaks down into nereistoxin, a potent neurotoxin

  
  

• Ecological Impact:

  • Aquatic Life: Extremely toxic to fish (LC₅₀ 0.05mg/L) and crustaceans

  • Soil Persistence: Half-life of 15–30 days, but longer in anaerobic conditions

  
  

3. Where Cartap Persists (Legally & Illegally)

4. Resistance & Alternatives

• Resistance Hotspots:

  • Philippines (rice stem borer, 40% reduced efficacy)

  • Thailand (sugarcane borers, CYP450 gene mutations)

  
  

• Emerging Replacements:

  • Biological: Beauveria bassiana (fungal biopesticide)

  • Chemical: Cyantraniliprole (Group 28, safer for pollinators)

  • Behavioral: Pheromone traps for borers

  
  

5. The Future of Cartap

• 2026 Predictions:

  • China may phase out due to new food safety laws

  • India could restrict if resistance worsens

  • Black market likely to grow in SE Asia & Africa

  
  

• Innovations Needed:

  • Microencapsulation to reduce environmental leakage

  • Detoxification tech (e.g., biochar filtration for water)

  
  

FAQ: Cartap in 2025

Q: Is cartap safer than chlorpyrifos?

Marginally—it degrades faster but still harms nervous systems.

Q: Can I use it in organic farming?

No—opt for neem oil or Bacillus thuringiensis instead.

Q: What’s the biggest legal risk?

EU imports test for even 0.01ppm—one spray can ban your rice shipment.

Key Takeaways for Farmers & Regulators

1. If Using Cartap:

   • Wear full PPE (gloves, mask, goggles)

   • Avoid water bodies (lethal to fish)

   
   

2. Transition Plan:

   • Rotate with diamides (e.g., chlorantraniliprole)

   • Adopt IPM (e.g., pheromone disruption)

   
   

3. Watch for Bans:

   • India & China may follow EU soon

   
   

️ Warning: Vietnamese authorities are cracking down on illegal shrimp farm use—fines up to $50,000.