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Preapproval for the plant growth regulator maleic hydrazide (MH) was granted last year but, as of November 2018, new regulatory requirements will now apply to all products containing the active.
MH is a sprout suppressant active which has garnered a lot of attention from potato growers this year. The active was applied to much of the country's potato crops which were worst effected by sprouting and secondary growth during the summer.
From 1 November 2018, the impurity of the active ‘hydrazine’ is not permitted to exceed 0,028 mg/k, down from a previous limit of 1 mg/kg.
In addition to this, under the EU regulation (2017/1506) crops treated using MH products can no longer be fed to livestock.
Member states are now required to ensure that the label of maleic hydrazide products and accompanying instructions must state that exposure to livestock by crops treated with MH is to be avoided.
These restrictions apply to all MH products from the authorisation holders from 1 November 2018. However, MH products placed on the market before 1 November 2018 which do not comply with the new requirement (i.e. existing labelled stock) have been allowed a grace period of six months for sale, and a further 12 months for use.
The active is up for re-authorisation on 31 October 2032.
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