Beans fungicide to leave market in Belgium

Cobalt, a generic plant protection product used as a fungicide on beans, is exiting the market in Belgium.

Responding to queries from the Irish Farmers Journal, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Ireland said: “The Department is aware that a plant protection product called 'Cobalt' is being withdrawn from the Belgium market.

“It is important to note that the Belgium authorities have deemed it acceptable to grant a grace period for continued sale of the product until 30 November 2026 and continued use at farm level until 15 September 2027.

“The Department is currently conducting an evaluation of the existing authorisation in Ireland of a product of the same name. Following that evaluation, appropriate regulatory action will be taken, as necessary.”

Cleared for use

When asked for comment, a spokesperson for CropLink, which distributes the product in Ireland, said: "Croplink has successfully marketed and sold Cobalt in the Irish market for the last three seasons. We are aware that substantively inaccurate rumours about Cobalt's use in Belgium have been circulating recently in Ireland.

"We would like to point out that Cobalt is still officially cleared for use on farm in Belgium until September 2027, remains fully compliant with the pesticide regulations in Ireland and many other countries across Europe and continues to offer growers a robust, technical and good-value alternative to branded chemistry on a range of crops."