DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
Ministerial Decision Report
Revocation of approval for the herbicide Linuron
(Public)
Purpose of the Report
The Minister for the Environment (The Minister) is requested to revoke the approval for the sale, dispersal, storage and use of all plant protection products containing the active ingredient Linuron (a herbicide).
Background
The Pesticides (General Provisions) (Jersey) Order 1991, Article 4, enables the Minister at any time to review, revoke or suspend an approval; or amend the conditions of an approval.
Linuron is a highly water soluble chemical which has frequently been found in Jersey waters. In recognition of the need for cleaner water it is considered an appropriate time to revoke its approval for use.
Discussion
Herbicides containing the active ingredient Linuron are widely used in the agricultural industry for the control of annual dicotyledons (broad leaved weeds) and annual grasses in a range of field crops, in particular the Jersey Royal potato crop.
Linuron is readily soluble in water and susceptible to leaching and is of concern in sensitive catchment areas such as Val de la Mare East, Val de la Mare West and Queens Valley.
Due to the continued risk posed by the herbicide Linuron to Jersey waters and the availability of alternative weed control strategies, the Minister is requested to revoke the approval for all plant protection products containing the active ingredient Linuron.
Jersey is revoking Linuron ahead of the UK because Linuron is relatively more mobile in the Island’s light soils and because of the continuing exceedances of this pesticide in the Island’s surface and ground waters.
The Department works closely with the Island’s farming industry through the ‘Action for Cleaner Water Group’ and the Water Management Plan to ensure that pesticides’ pollution in our Island waters is minimised.
Recommendation
- The Minister revokes the approval for the sale and distribution of plant protection products containing the active ingredient Linuron with immediate effect.
- The Minister revokes the approval for storage and use of plant protection products after the 31st December 2017, enabling existing stocks to be stored and used by 31st December 2017.
- The Director of Environmental Protection to place an appropriate notice in the Gazette section of the Jersey Evening Post to inform the public of the Ministerial Decision
Written by: Plant Pathologist & Laboratory Manager, Environment Department
Ministerial Decision ref: MD-PE-2017-0011
07 February 2017