News Arable
EU bans chlorpropham in potatoes and onions
A decision by the European Commission has shown that the sprout inhibitor and herbicide chlorpropham (chlorpropham) will no longer be permitted from 1 January 2020. The European Potato Processors Association (EUPPA) has reported this to its members. The decision follows a difficult renewal period.
In April it was announced that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) could not find a majority for the renewal of the license for chlorpropham. The European Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) also failed to reach a majority vote recently. Then it was up to the European Commission to make a decision. It concerns the use as a sprout inhibitor in potatoes (CIPC) and as a herbicide in onions.
Decision
The European Commission has also announced that the license will not be renewed. The EUPPA informs its members that the curtain has fallen for chlorpropham. That reports the website Potato News Today, holding the letter sent. This letter states that the license of chlorpropham will not be renewed. Several Member States are therefore withdrawing the license for the product.
The expiry date for the active substance is Wednesday 8 January 2020. However, Member States may extend this deadline themselves. The final deadline for this is October 8, 2020.
Ban was in sight
The sector has already acknowledged that the situation for the drug was precarious. It is not easy to find alternatives. The big problem is existing potato storage facilities. CIPC penetrates the (wooden) construction of the boxes, so that residues can still be found long after the ban. For this reason, most new repositories no longer use CIPC.
A solution is being sought diligently throughout Europe. The disappearance of CIPC has been going on for much longer in the United Kingdom. Romain Cools, Belgapom's secretary, called the lack of CIPC has previously been a threat to the sector.
Situation onions
It also leaves a gap as a herbicide in onion cultivation. UPL, the authorization holder, withdrew the On request for use as a sprout inhibitor. For example, UPL wanted to keep it as a herbicide in onions. However, the decision of the European Commission refers to the full use of the active ingredient chlorpropham in plant protection products. It may therefore no longer be used in onions. The non-renewal also applies to the use in the cultivation of inulin chicory, Sensus reports Boerenbusiness.
Niels van der Boom
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