Window of opportunity set to close for use of ‘banned’ bracken pesticide

As THE window for buying the bracken control herbicide asulam closed this week, farmers were warned that they only had until October 31 to complete their applications or dispose of stocks, writes Brian Henderson.

Simon Thorp, co-ordinator of the Bracken Control Group. reminded farmers that it would be illegal to apply or store asulam after that date. He said that this marked the end of the EU’s emergency authorisation approval which had to be sanctioned annually after the product was effectively banned in all parts of the EU from 31 December 2011.

However, after considerable outrage in Scotland where the product was the only selective herbicide able to effectively control rampaging bracken on the hillsides, emergency procedures had been brought into allow its continued use under carefully controlled conditions.

And although the product is not likely to be relicensed before 2016 there was good news for the control group when it was recently revealed that, after what was hailed as an impressively swift turn-round, the EU’s Chemicals Regulation Directorate was set to give a notice of authorisation again for the chemicals use in 2014.

“There has been very broad support for continued use of asulam from all bodies interested in Scotland’s hills – be they owners, farmers, conservation groups or leisure activities. It is critical that we continue to have access to this control measure if we are to stay on top of the plant’s encroachment into productive grazing,” said Thorp.