A group of crop associations working through the British Growers Association (BGA) is looking at a new way for the industry to fund applications for critical ‘minor use’ authorisations for crop protection products once AHDB ends its work on the extension of use (EAMU) programme next March.
“Crop protection remains a major challenge for growers and it is imperative the industry has access to the widest possible selection of products, together with a process and the resources to make and support EAMU applications,” said BGA chief executive Jack Ward.
“Several growers have suggested the cost of the EAMU work should be borne by government. This conversation has been had at ministerial level and the response has been unequivocal – this is an industry, not a taxpayer, responsibility.
“We urgently need to get a new system in place before March and the fairest and most cost-effective way forward is to find a mechanism that works across all sectors and to which the maximum number of growers can contribute. The more who contribute, the lower the cost for each will be. We are talking about something that’s fundamental to a £3bn industry so we need to get it right.”
A steering group chaired by asparagus grower John Chinn, and with members from across the horticulture and potatoes sectors, has put forward a proposal for a ‘voluntary subscription’ system with a new, not-for-profit company set up to raise the funds and undertake the EAMU work. It would be owned by a collective of crop associations with BGA providing administrative back-up.
Subscriptions would be raised and paid through the crop associations, as these already have the mechanism for invoicing growers and communicating information about EAMU authorisations.
“The industry would have control over the direction and costs – the two main issues growers raised concerns about during the AHDB ballots,” said Mr Ward.
He said obtaining and generating the data required to support applications for an EAMU was more complex than many growers realise, and had been further complicated by Brexit as applications may depend on data already generated by manufacturers for authorisations in Europe.
He said the steering group was already working on setting up the company and aimed to have that, and an indication of costs, in place by November.
AHDB estimates application fees charged by the Health and Safety Executive accounted for 17% of its EAMU budget, with a further 17% for running crop residues trials and 27% for efficacy trials to provide data to support applications.
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