UK Eases Restrictions on Pesticide Use!

Recently, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued an important announcement concerning the updated and adjusted regulation of two pesticide active substances - flusulfonon and amphenicone. This initiative aims to further ensure the safety of pesticide use, while optimizing management measures to promote the production and use of related products.

First, with regard to the herbicide active substance flusulfonon, HSE has decided to remove the previously set use limit of once every three years for the same plot and the maximum dose of the active substance should not exceed 20 grams per hectare. This decision has been approved by the relevant British authorities. As a result, plant protection products containing flusulfonon can now be used in the UK in a more flexible manner, subject to EU Regulation No 1107/2009. This adjustment will provide greater convenience to farmers and agricultural producers, enabling them to use fluorsulfuron-containing products more efficiently according to actual needs.

At the same time, HSE has also adjusted the specification requirements for the original drug of amphenicone. Based on the results of the latest scientific assessment, HSE decided to increase the minimum purity of amphenicone to ≥960g/kg and for the first time set a maximum limit of 1 mg/kg (i.e. 0.0001% w/w) for its related impurity hydrazine. HSE confirms that hydrazine does not pose any toxicological risk at this limit value. As existing amphenicone products already meet the requirements of this new standard, this adjustment will be implemented directly without any transition period. This initiative will help ensure the quality of amphenicone products on the market, thus guaranteeing the safety and effectiveness of agricultural production.

These two updates fully reflect the efforts of the UK Pesticide Management Authority to optimize management practices while ensuring the safety of pesticide use. By adjusting and updating management regulations, HSE not only provides a clearer technical basis for the production and use of related products, but also lays a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the pesticide industry. These adjustments will help increase the efficiency of agricultural production while ensuring that environmental protection and human health are not negatively affected by pesticide use.