New plant protection product regulations get mixed reception

NEW regulations adopted by the European Parliament on the use of plant protection products were given a guarded welcome yesterday by the Animal and Plant Health Association (APHA).

Brendan Barnes, director of APHA, which represents manufacturers and distributors of plant protection products in Ireland, said the final regulation adopted is a substantial improvement on earlier proposals.

It removes a number of the extreme measures which would have seriously threatened the viability of Irish tillage and horticultural production.