CB2101 – Metalaxyl-M seed treatment restriction for outdoor use – January 18th 2021

Metalaxyl-M seed treatment restriction for outdoor use

Syngenta announced in April 2020 that a 15-year renewal, until 31 May 2035, for foliar use was granted for metalaxyl-M.

The renewal of approval includes the following restriction:

• Seeds treated with plant protection products containing metalaxyl-M should only be sown in greenhouses.
  
• This restriction applies with effect from 1 June 2021.
  
  
• Sowing metalaxyl-M treated seeds in greenhouses is allowed without restrictions.

The regulation was published in May 2020 by the EU Commission – click here >

Risks for birds and mammals from consumption of treated seeds were identified. Therefore, the use of seeds treated with plant protection products containing metalaxyl-M was restricted and a decision made that it was appropriate that seeds treated with plant protection products containing metalaxyl-M should only be sown indoors.

A regulatory submission was made with the aim of removing the restriction on outdoor use and CRD are currently reviewing data that has been provided to them by Syngenta regarding this restriction. However, this has so far been unsuccessful, and it is likely that the restriction on outdoor use will remain in place. A review by the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides will take place in April 2021, at which a final decision will be made.

Due to the current status of this approval, be aware that it is likely that from 1st June 2021 sowing seed treated with metalaxyl-M outdoors will NOT be allowed, and it will not be possible to sow seeds imported from EU member states treated with Metalaxyl-M after 1st June 2021.

PGRO technical information
All PGRO Agronomy information has been revised to include the changes in pesticide availability for peas and beans.  PGRO publications are available as free downloads from the PGRO web site www.pgro.org  User passwords are available on request through the web site.  

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