'Pirimor Rook 100' Smoke Generators: Temporary Authorisation

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A decision made on 15 July 2019

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2019-0065
Decision Summary Title :	‘Pirimor Rook 100’ Temporary Authorisation		Date of Decision Summary:	09 July 2019
Decision Summary Author:	Plant Pathologist & Laboratory Manager		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Approval for Sale, Storage and Use of Pirimor Rook 100		Date of Written Report:	09 July 2019
Written Report Author:	Plant Pathologist & Laboratory Manager		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: ‘Pirimor Rook 100’ Temporary Authorisation
Decision(s): The Minister approved the sale, storage and use of ‘Pirimor Rook 100’ smoke generators for the control of aphids in seed potato stores in Jersey for a temporary period of 3 years, beginning 15 July 2019 and terminating on 15 July 2022, as set out and recommended in the Approval for Sale, Storage and Use of Pirimor Rook 100 Report, dated 9 July 2019.
Reason(s) for Decision: In accordance with the Pesticides (Jersey) law 1991, the Minister may at any time give his approval in relation to a pesticide or amend the conditions of an approval; each approval may authorise the supply, storage and use of the pesticide to which it relates. In addition the Minister may approve a pesticide which has been authorised for use elsewhere subject to the conditions of use. This decision allows the temporary use of a product to control aphids in professional seed potato stores, while no alternative control measures exist.
Resource Implications: None
Action(s) required: As soon as reasonably practical, give public notice in the Jersey Gazette of this Ministerial Decision. Issue any person or organisation wishing to use Pirimor Rook 100 in Jersey a Temporary Authorisation document.
Signature: Deputy John Young		Position: Minister for the Environment
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

'Pirimor Rook 100' Smoke Generators: Temporary Authorisation

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Minister for the Environment

Ministerial Decision Report

Approval for the sale, storage and use of Pirimor Rook 100

Purpose of Report

To request the Minister for the Environment (The Minister) to approve the sale, storage and use of ‘Pirimor Rook 100’ Smoke Generators as an aphicide on seed potatoes in potato stores for a temporary period of 3 years, beginning 15 July 2019 and terminating on 15 July 2022.

Background

The Pesticides (General Provisions) (Jersey) Order 1991, article 4, enables the Minister at any time to give his approval, or amend the conditions of an approval, in relation to a pesticide of any description.

Jersey is the only place where seed potatoes are chitted (method of preparing potatoes for planting) before planting and aphids can multiply to damaging levels on the shoots, causing malformation and transmitting virus before planting, leading to crop damage and yield loss. Shoots are prone to aphid infestation during the autumn and winter storage period and feeding by aphids can create physical damage, weaken seed tubers and spread pathogens such as viruses.

Whilst efforts such as pre-storage hygiene and insect screening can reduce the number of aphids in the store, physical methods alone cannot prevent entry of the pest as they migrate to winter hosts. Further measures are needed to achieve control. Until 2010, control was achieved using nicotine fumigation but the approvals for all nicotine products have since been revoked. Because of the lack of approved products available, the Minister has, since 2010, approved Pirimor Rook 100 as an alternative.

Pirimor Rook 100 is a pirimicarb-based carbamate fumigant insecticide product registered in Holland for use in potato stores against aphids. Other pirimicarb-based insecticides are approved for use in the U.K. and Jersey on edible crops such as legumes. Pirimicarb is also widely used in biological control programmes as it specifically affects aphids and has little or no effect on bees, ladybirds and other beneficial insects.

The use of pirimicarb in seed potato stores would present minimal risk to the natural environment or surface water as it used indoors in sealed potato stores.

There is no risk of pirimicarb residues entering the food chain as treated seed tubers are not harvested for human consumption.

Conditions of Use

Approval is granted subject to the following conditions of use:

• For use only in professional seed potato stores when seed potatoes are present.

• Only product with a label in the English language may be used.

• Only to be used when aphids are present in the seed store.

• One smoke generator to be used per 700 cubic meters.

• Store volume calculations must be kept with application records for checking.

• Store air temperature should be 15°C to give maximum efficacy in the vapour stage.

• Fans should be used to avoid ‘dead spots’ in the store.

• The Growth, Housing and Environment department reserves the right to inspect seed potato stores and application records prior to, during and after pirimicarb fumigation to check best practice is being followed and collect efficacy and residue data.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve the sale, storage and use of ‘Pirimor Rook 100’ Smoke Generators as an aphicide on seed potatoes in potato stores for a temporary period of 3 years, beginning 15 July 2019 and terminating on 15 July 2022.

5. Reason for Decision

In accordance with the Pesticides (Jersey) law 1991, the Minister may at any time give his approval in relation to a pesticide or amend the conditions of an approval; each approval may authorise the supply, storage and use of the pesticide to which it relates. In addition the Minister may approve a pesticide which has been authorised for use elsewhere subject to the conditions of use. This decision allows the temporary use of a product to control aphids in professional seed potato stores, while no alternative control measures exist.

6. Resource Implications

This decision will result in no resource implications.

Report author : Stephen Thompson, Plant Pathologist & Laboratory Manager	Document date: 9th July 2019
Quality Assurance / Review : Willie Peggie, Director – Natural Environment	MD Sponsor: Willie Peggie, Director – Natural Environment

MD-PE-2019-0065