NMPF Urges EPA to Advance Sterile Insect Technology
July 7, 2026
As New World Screwworm bears down on the United States, NMPF on June 25 submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency supporting the agency’s continued review and advancement of the NovoFly program.
In the comments, NMPF noted that it rests on solid science and the long-standing success of sterile insect technique in real-world use. It highlighted EPA’s own review findings indicating minimal risks and emphasized that this approach represents an improvement over traditional methods through more efficient male-only production, reduced unnecessary releases and stronger overall control of New World screwworm. EPA has also noted that SIT remains the only proven non-chemical tool for controlling New World screwworm and that this approach reduces reliance on conventional insecticides.
“NMPF supports EPA’s continued review of these active ingredients and the associated product under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), particularly given the importance of effective tools to prevent the establishment and spread of New World screwworm in the United States,” NMPF said in its comments.
These new comments supporting EPA’s findings follow earlier comments and an advocacy campaign led by NMPF in April to demonstrate broad dairy industry support for effective, environmentally responsible tools to protect U.S. livestock and agriculture from New World screwworm. EPA’s continued review of NovoFly and its active ingredients under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is a requirement to clear the way for field trials of the NovoFly in Panama.
USDA on April 17 started building its domestic sterile fly production facility in Edinberg, TX, with operations projected to begin late next year. The first detection of New World screwworm in the United States was announced by USDA June 3, with 32 cases found, of which 18 are active, as of July 6. Visit NMPF’s screwworm page for resources about New World screwworm or visit screwworm.gov for the current status of U.S. detections.
