Growers are now starting to see product labels with aquatic buffer zones greater than 5 metres. Claire Matthewman, Bayer CropScience product manager for fruit and vegetable crops, explains that this is due to changes made by CRD to aquatic risk mitigation following the introduction of the EU Zonal harmonisation of authorisation (1107/2009).
“It is now possible to have a plant protection product authorised using three star nozzles with a buffer zone of 6, 12 or 18 metres. The good news is that it will enable us to retain products which would have been lost if the original LERAP scheme had continued, with its maximum buffer zone of 5 metres, and it will put us on a level playing field with the rest of the EU.”
Field vegetable growers may notice this mitigation first on the new Nativo 75 WG (tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin) label as it is one of the first products to make it through the re-registration process for tebuconazole containing products.
“Previously Nativo 75WG was not categorised under the LERAP scheme but its new label states a 12 metre buffer zone for all crops in the ‘important information’ box. This is typical of what we will see coming out of re-registration with buffer zones greater than 5 metres being necessary to achieve an acceptable risk assessment by today’s standards.”
Claire says important details to note on the CRD website are that; from the specified buffer zone of 6, 12 or 18 metres, 3 star drift reducing nozzles must be used up to a distance of 30 metres from the water course. Beyond this the operator may revert to standard nozzles with no drift reduction.
This new scheme was key to Nativo 75WG’s re-authorisation and Claire is pleased to announce that it has retained most of its uses. The new registration (MAPP 16867) does however come with important changes to the label that vegetable growers need to be aware of.
For brassicas the application rate has been reduced from 0.4 kg/ha to 0.36 kg/ha and for cabbage and Brussels sprouts the number of applications has been reduced from three to two per crop. There are no changes to the label for carrots but leeks are no longer authorised. Work is ongoing to have this crop reinstated.
The revocation timetable for stock bearing the old MAPP number 13057 is; final sales to growers 30th June 2015; growers to use or dispose of stock by 30th June 2016.
The new Folicur (tebuconazole) label has not yet been finalised but it is already clear that use on all vegetable crops except field beans will be lost. This will affect growers of swedes, turnips, cabbage, leeks, carrots, parsnips and horseradish.
Once all new labels have been finalised they will be available to download from: www.bayercropscience.co.uk