I had not realised that EU member states have some discretion if they wish to reverse EU bans on certain plant protection products. Such a case has arisen in France, where there has been a serious outbreak of barley yellow dwarf virus in the sugar beet crop. Irish cereal farmers are also well aware of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), especially in early sown cereals. The removal of the seed dressing Redigo Dieter from the market has been seen as a significant factor in the problems surrounding this year’s harvest, as farmers were forced to delay sowing in an effort to minimise the aphid spread of BYDV.

In France, it is believed that yields of sugar beet have been reduced by around 30%, making the crop unprofitable and leaving the already stretched French sugar beet industry even more vulnerable. So, the French government has invoked the EU regulation “to allow a member state to authorise limited use for 120 days in the face of a danger that cannot be controlled by other reasonable means.”

The neonicotinoids were banned in the EU under controversial circumstances, because of their reputed effect on specific breeds of bees

The plant protection product used to control the aphid is of the neonicotinoid family, the same type that has been used in the now unavailable Redigo Dieter. The neonicotinoids were banned in the EU under controversial circumstances, because of their reputed effect on specific breeds of bees – though this has been disputed by some scientists. The end outcome is that the products are now allowed to be used in France.

It is inevitable that Irish growers will re-examine the products that have been banned in Ireland for which there is no realistic alternative.

I was interested to hear from our colleagues in La France Agricole that the French environment minister went along with the government decision, despite protests from environmentalists.

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Redigo derogation rejection ‘severe blow to tillage farmers’ – IFA