CRD/HSE announced by email at the end of November that these arrangements were to close at the end of 2020.
What Were the Long Term Arrangements of Use?
This was a scheme in which growers could by following a detailed set of rules extrapolate from an on-label use. Edible crops were removed from the scheme some time back leaving only ornamental plant production and a few other non-edible crop uses. The list of excluded active ingredients on which the scheme could operate had been increased at various times with the eventual aim of the UK regulator to phase out the arrangements.
Why have they gone?
They have gone because the arrangements lacked a clear legal base under the current pesticide regulations. CRD generated Extensions of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMUs) for a number of uses the industry requested back at the time it was proposed to phase out the arrangements, however, in many cases the products on which requests were made have been lost and in other cases, EAMU requests were unsuccessful or only partially successful with restrictions applied.
What does this mean to growers of ornamental plants?
Growers may only use pesticides in accordance with label recommendations or where there is an Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU).
Will this cause any problems for growers?
Quite possibly. There are some examples below of affected products.
Examples of lost uses from the scheme closure:
Systhane 20EW
This product may now only be used on ornamental plant production in accordance with EAMU 2026 of 2020 and use is restricted to container plants under permanent protection. The plant may not be handled for 6 days after treatment.
Aphox
This product may only be used on ornamental plant production in accordance with EAMU 4195 of 2019 and 4196 of 2019 and use is restricted to plants grown in containers under permanent protection.
Apollo
This product may only be used on ornamental plant production under EAMU 2082 of 2016 which restricts use to outdoors.
Pyrethrum 5EC
No uses on ornamental plant production are allowed.
Spruzit
Ornamental plant production is restricted to permanent protection with full enclosure as per the label.
Centurion Max
No uses in ornamental plant production are allowed.
Please be aware that these are only examples and many other products will be affected.
This information is only correct at the time of writing. Pesticide approvals and extension of authorisation for minor use (EAMU) change regularly.
Any use of any product outside the label is at the grower's own risk.
28/01/2021.