Sector to discuss CIPC . with ministry

Next week, the arable farming sector will meet with representatives from The Hague to discuss the situation surrounding chlorpropham (CIPC). One of the starting points is a workable temporary MRL that should prevent a disaster scenario in the potatoes.

As of January 1, 2020, a European prohibition on the sprout inhibitor chlorpropham. The use-by date for, among other things, the storage of potatoes has been set at October 8, 2020. In other words, the potato sector must turn to alternatives for the 2020 harvest. They are available for storage, albeit a lot more expensive, for export, an adequate solution is still being sought.

A maximum residue limit (MRL) of 10 ppm currently applies for chlorpropham. This means that no more than 10 mg of the agent may be present in a kilogram of potatoes. That value will eventually be adjusted down to the default limit of 0,01 ppm. If nothing changes, and there is no temporary MRL, it is estimated that 50% of the potatoes will not be processed. "A disaster scenario", agrees André Hoogendijk, director of the Branche organization (BO) Akkerbouw.

Urgency recognized
For this reason, the Taskforce Germination Inhibition has been set up under the banner of BO Akkerbouw, in which chain parties (cultivation, trade and processing) jointly search for solutions. Due to the impending emergency, a fire letter was sent to the Ministry of LNV last week. "We are very pleased that the problem has been recognized and that we will be meeting with the ministry next week to discuss this," said Hoogendijk. Representatives from, among others, the Ctgb and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Public Health), which formally deals with MRLs in the Netherlands, also join in this.

The parties within the task force argue in favor of a transition period by means of a temporary MRL. "That must be a residue limit that is low enough to guarantee public health, but high enough to achieve a workable situation in arable farming," says Hoogendijk. "We are hopeful that it will come, but a few things still need to be done."

Exciting spring
The European body SCoPAFF ultimately decides on the temporary MRL on behalf of the European Commission. The European potato processing industry has submitted a request for this. Hoogendijk expects clarity this spring. "A very exciting moment. If the outcome is positive, and there is a workable temporary MRL, it will take about a year before it comes into effect. Until then, the current MRL of 10 ppm will apply."

If an acceptable temporary MRL is established, Hoogendijk expects that 98% of the potatoes will soon fall within the standard. A temporary MRL always applies for a maximum period of 10 years. In the meantime, it will be examined whether the standard can be adjusted downwards step by step and which values ​​are appropriate.

In the meantime, the NAO is investigating alternatives to chlorprofram in export and the Vavi is investigating the most (cost) effective cleaning methods for storage warehouses. These results are also expected this spring.

Jeanette Pennings

Jeannet has her roots in the flower bulb sector and she grew up on an agricultural company in the northern part of North Holland. As a generalist she reports for Boerenbusiness across all sectors. She is also exploring the possibilities of sponsored advertising.

j.pennings@boerenbusiness. Nl

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