Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has ruled out issuing emergency authorisation for the herbicide active diquat.

In a recent parliamentary questions session, Minister Creed was asked to clarify his department’s position on the pesticide.

From 4 February this year, the use of diquat is no longer permitted on European farms. Diquat was widely used as a pre-harvest potato haulm desiccant.

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Lost approval

The active lost approval in the EU due to risks identified in the areas of human health and the environment.

There are no direct alternative haulm desiccants available in the country which achieve the same results. As a result, the loss of the active will cause significant disruption to potato growers' crop management strategies.

Due to the risks identified during the recent assessment process, it is not proposed to issue emergency approval at this time

In response to the question, Minister Creed said: “In making a decision in respect of any emergency authorisation, my Department carefully considers the specific reasons why use of a product may be sought and potential impacts on human and environmental health that could arise from its use.”

He continued: “Due to the risks identified during the recent assessment process, it is not proposed to issue emergency approval at this time.”

Emergency authorisation

So far, four member states (Finland, Greece, Hungary and Slovenia) have issued emergency authorisations for the use of products containing diquat, including for the desiccation of potato haulms.

Each of these member states have put risk mitigation measures in place to allow the use of the active.

These measures are deemed to sufficiently mitigate against the risks identified by the European Food Safety Authority.

For more on the call for the emergency authorisation of diquat, read this week’s Irish Farmers Journal.