New requirements for all 2012 applications of chlorpyrifos insecticides have been announced by a consortium of the three major approval holders of UK products; Dow AgroSciences, Makhteshim Agan and Headland Agrochemicals. The changes form part of the new stewardship initiative; ‘Chlorpyrifos: Say NO to DRIFT’, which is being managed by ADAS.
Making LERAP three star rated, low drift nozzles, and an extended 20 metre no-spray buffer zone adjacent to watercourses a requirement for all boom sprayer applied chlorpyrifos treatments, the new guidelines are in response to regulatory pressure relating to the protection of aquatic organisms, that is threatening the availability of the insecticide.
Tree fruit treatments made using an axial fan or tower sprayers must use Albuz TVI low drift nozzles and apply a 50 metre no-spray buffer zone adjacent to watercourses.
It’s simply a case of no drift or no chlorpyrifos, says Dow’s ecotoxicologist Steve Norman.
Explaining the regulatory backdrop to the issue of a new ‘risk assessment’ for chlorpyrifos, under its routine EU/UK review, means that the existing label no-spray buffer zones adjacent to watercourses are no longer considered sufficient by the Chemicals Regulations Directorate (CRD).
The criteria cannot be met by introducing larger buffer zones alone, meaning that low drift nozzles are now a necessity.
Although chlorpyrifos products currently remain available as the CRD final decision is pending, the industry must adopt the new guidelines to give CRD the confidence to renew the registrations. The aim of the initiative is to achieve 100% uptake of low drift nozzles and extended buffer zones for all 2012 applications and beyond.
Campaign Manager Lindsay Fogg of ADAS says "we need every grower, spray operator and adviser to get behind the initiative".
Exhibiting at LAMMA 2012 on 18/19th Jan the campaign is offering visitors the chance to receive a set of low drift nozzles in a free prize draw and will also have a live on-line registration point. Find the campaign stand 8161, Hall 8.
For more information and to register your support on-line visit www.saynotodrift.co.uk.
Alternatively you can contact Lindsay Fogg at ADAS on 08450 261 120 or email enquiries@saynotodrift.co.uk for more information.
