Illegal crop sprays are available here
Products that are not licenced here and that have no equivalent on the market here are being offered for sale, according to the Animal and Plant Health Association (APHA).
Declan O’Brien of APHA warned that any lack of compliance totally undermines the food chain.
If a product has not been licenced, the origin and safety of its active ingredient and formulation is unknown and there could be a threat to the operator using the product, and dangerous residues could occur in food products produced from the crops. In addition, the environment may be damaged.
Farmers in the Irish Grain Assurance Scheme can use only licenced products. According to IGAS, 90 % of traded grain in Ireland goes through its scheme. Grain merchants who are also part of IGAS cannot purchase crops treated with an unlicenced product.
“Quite clearly, the relatively small saving made on inputs may be dwarfed by the huge financial loss of not being able to trade crops produced on the farm,” said Declan O’Brien.
He asked farmers to check that the products they use have a PCS number. If not, the farmer should be suspicious and should make direct contact with the Pesticide Control Service (PCS) via the Department of Agriculture and Food (telephone number 01 6789011). The PCS will then confirm the legal status of any product.
Mr O’Brien pointed out that, by law, the agro-chemical industry must demonstrate the safety, quality and effectiveness of its products in advance of receiving a licence to place the products on the market.
