The Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) has issued a regulatory update (06/2015) outlining changes to the authorised use of the insecticide chlorpyrifos.

As part of the European Union’s routine review programme, new human health based safety levels (known as ‘end points’) have been agreed for chlorpyrifos, an insecticide used to control insect pests in agricultural crops and amenity situations. These new end points represent the latest assessment of risk against modern regulatory standards.

Risk assessments carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have indicated that some currently authorised uses of chlorpyrifos are likely to exceed the newly agreed end points, and we are swiftly evaluating new studies in order to ascertain whether risks are likely to occur in actual use.

With the full co-operation of product authorisation holders, where the risk assessments have already identified current uses that can no longer be supported, HSE are taking the precautionary approach of restricting those uses now.

The list of changed uses, which took effect from 21st May 2015, is as follows:
•    Apples and pears. No use after blossom except for crops destined for cider or perry production. Pre-blossom treatments can continue.
•    Strawberries. No use for 15 days before harvest (replacing the current pre-harvest interval of 7 days).
•    Plums. No use after blossom except for crops intended for heat preservation. Pre-blossom treatments can continue.
•    Brassicas (cauliflower, broccoli, calabrese, oriental cabbages, Brussels sprout, cabbage). Use only before the head forms.
•    Potatoes. Use only on seed crop potatoes.

For full details of the changes to individual products, growers are advised to contact their supplier.

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