Ministerial Decision Report
Temporary Authorisation: Cuprokylt (copper oxychloride)
Background
The Pesticides (General Provisions) (Jersey) Order 1991, article 4, enables the Minister for the Environment (‘the Minister’) at any time to give their approval, or amend the conditions of an approval, in relation to a pesticide of any description.
A temporary approval for the use of Cuprokylt on potato crops during 2021 was granted by the Minister (MD-PE-2021-0010) and identical temporary approval has been granted in the previous five years for use on potato and tomato crops.
Cuprokylt has been used in Jersey for many years for the control of late blight in organically grown tomato and Jersey Royal potato crops but, since the full approval status for use on tomato and potato crops was withdrawn, organic growers have had no alternative fungicides available with which to control late blight.
In the U.K., Cuprokylt (marketed by Certis U.K.) currently has full approval status for use on grape crops and in forestry; until the end of 2016 it also had full approval status for use on potato and tomato crops until this was withdrawn for commercial reasons.
Detail
A number of potato and tomato growers in the organic and conventional sectors have requested that the authorisation for Cuprokylt is renewed with immediate effect to include the whole of the 2022 calendar year.
The use of Cuprokylt is not seen as contentious by Natural Environment as the active ingredient, copper oxychloride, does not readily leach and poses a low environmental risk. Jersey Water confirm that they have no concerns over its continued use in Jersey, and the use of copper-based fungicides is endorsed by the UK Soil Association.
Any person or organisation wishing to use Cuprokylt in Jersey would be required to obtain a “Temporary Authorisation for Cuprokylt” document (see appendix) from Infrastructure, Housing and Environment. The document describes the product, provides advisory information, and sets out the conditions for authorised use, including crop maximum residue levels and spray operator protection requirements.
Resource Implications
There are financial or manpower implications arising from this decision.
Appendix
Temporary Authorisation for Cuprokylt
Pesticides (Jersey) Law 1991
Product name: Cuprokylt
Active ingredient: 87.8% copper oxychloride (50% elemental copper)
Product authorisation holder: Industrias Quimicas Del Valles, S.A. (Registered Company no. 30226)
Marketing company: Certis
This temporary authorisation ends: 31 December 2022
If the authorisation of the above product is withdrawn or amended before the end date above, this temporary authorisation will end on the same date as the authorisation for the product.
Extent of authorisation: Jersey
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Signed by: Deputy Young, Minister for the Environment Date of issue:
EXPLANATORY NOTES
- This is a temporary authorisation for Jersey for the sale, dispersal, storage and use of Cuprokylt (copper oxychloride) for the period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022.
- Neither the efficacy nor the phytotoxicity of the product for which this authorisation has been granted has been assessed and, as such, the user bears the risk in respect of failures concerning its efficacy and phytotoxicity.
ADVISORY INFORMATION
This temporary authorisation relates to the use of ‘Cuprokylt’ as a fungicide for the control of late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans on tomatoes and potatoes. Applications to be made via a conventional hydraulic sprayer, air assisted hydraulic sprayer or knapsack sprayer in a water volume of 1100 – 1300 litres of water / ha for potatoes and 1000 litres of water / ha for tomatoes.
CONDITIONS OF AUTHORISATION FOR USE
The conditions below are obligatory. They must be complied with when the authorisation occurs. Failure to comply with the following conditions may result in other enforcement action, including prosecution. For the purposes of this authorisation only, the conditions and/or requirements shown below supersede any corresponding conditions and/or requirements set out on the label or otherwise provided for under the product authorisation which would otherwise apply.
Use:
Field of use: ONLY AS A FUNGICIDE
User: Professional
Crops/situations: | Individual dose (kg product / ha): | Maximum total dose: | Number of treatments (per crop): | Harvest interval: |
Potatoes Tomatoes | 1.5 - 2 3 | - - | 3 - 6 (apply every 10 – 14 days) - | 14 days - |
Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for potatoes and tomatoes: 5 mg/Kg
Operator Protection:
(1) Spray equipment must only be used where the operator’s normal position is within a closed cab on a tractor or self-propelled sprayer when making broadcast air-assisted applications.
(2) Other engineering control of operator exposure must also be used where reasonably practicable in addition to the following personal protective equipment:
(a) Operators must wear suitable protective gloves and suitable respiratory protective equipment when handling the product.
(b) Operators must wear suitable protective gloves when handling contaminated surfaces or applying by hand-held equipment.
(c) Workers must wear suitable protective gloves when handling treated crops or contaminated surfaces.
(3) However, engineering controls may replace personal protective equipment if a COSHH assessment shows that they provide an equal or higher standard of protection.
Other specific restrictions:
This product must only be applied in accordance with the terms of this authorisation, the product label and/or leaflet.