"Dow Weed Killer Re-Approved After Patent Raises Questions"

"The Environmental Protection Agency once again gave its stamp of approval to a new weed-killing pesticide from Dow Chemical Co. following a review a court granted in response to an agency request.

The EPA’s move allows Dow to continue selling its Enlist Duo pesticide, which is designed to be used alongside Dow’s Enlist line of genetically modified seeds. Dow said in a 2014 annual report that it expects its Enlist line of products to generate $1 billion in revenue between 2014-2018, primarily on corn and soybeans.

Last year, the EPA took the unusual step of asking a federal court to give it another opportunity to review its initial approval of Enlist Duo. The agency told the court it had reviewed the application Dow had submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to patent Enlist Duo and discovered a discrepancy."

David Schultz reports for Chemical Regulation Reporter November 1, 2016.