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Pesticides (General Provisions) (Jersey) Order: Revocation of approval for the herbicide Linuron

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

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  • demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision

  • providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

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A decision made 8 February 2017:

Decision Reference:  MD-PE-2017-0011

Decision Summary Title :

Revocation of approval for the herbicide Linuron

Date of Decision Summary:

07/02/17

Decision Summary Author:

 

Plant Pathologist & Laboratory Manager, Department of the Environment

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

 

Written Report

Title :

Revocation of approval for the herbicide Linuron

Date of Written Report:

07/02/17

Written Report Author:

Plant Pathologist & Laboratory Manager, Department of the Environment

Written Report:

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Subject: Revocation of approval for the herbicide Linuron

Decision(s): The Minister for the Environment:

  1. Revoked the approval for the sale and distribution of plant protection products containing the active ingredient Linuron with immediate effect.
  2. Revoked 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.

Reason(s) for Decision:

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 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.

Action required: The Director of Environmental Protection to place an appropriate notice in the Gazette section of the Jersey Evening Post to inform the public.

 

Signature:

 

Position:

Minister for the Environment

 

Date Signed:

 

 

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

 

Linuron Herbicide: Revocation

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

 

  1. The Minister revokes the approval for the sale and distribution of plant protection products containing the active ingredient Linuron with immediate effect.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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

 

 

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