Potato growers who rely on Bayer’s tuber treatment Emesto Prime DS (penflufen) for protection against black scurf can apply the product next year after the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) announced that it can be sold and used until the end of June 2021.
Earlier this summer Bayer informed the industry that it had been made aware that the marketing authorisation for Emesto Prime DS in the UK, was set to be withdrawn by the European Commission. The revocation followed an assessment and reclassification of penflufen by the rapporteur state, Poland. At the time, Bayer said it hoped that CRD would permit its use for another season to enable growers to make a managed transition to an alternative means of protection.
Commenting on the CRD announcement, Edward Hagues, Bayer root crop campaign manager, welcomed the flexibility the decision would give growers worried about how to manage the threat posed by Rhizoctonia solani.
“Emesto Prime DS sets the standard for black scurf protection to give the highest level of crop quality. By allowing its use for another season, growers can be confident that Rhizoctonia solani will not pose an undue risk next year,” Mr Hagues said.
As announced by CRD, the final sale, supply, storage, disposal, and use will be on 30th June 2021. There will be no changes to the maximum residue limit (MRL) for Emesto Prime DS, so 2021 treated crops will continue to be marketable after this date.
