The continued availability of Devrinol, Colzamid and other herbicides containing the active ingredient Napropamide, has been secured across Europe following an interim relief ruling that has been awarded to crop protection company, United Phosphorus.
Napropamide is the active ingredient in a number of pre-emergence herbicides that are used to control broadleaf weeds and annual grasses in crops of oilseed rape, brassicas, strawberries, cane fruits, vines, ornamentals and many other crops.
The decision by the European Commission to revoke the registration of the active ingredient has been over-turned by the ruling by the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg.
In November 2008, the European Commission voted to withdraw all products containing Napropamide from the market due to environmental concerns. An appeal against this decision was subsequently submitted by United Phosphorus who argued that the decision was “ill founded” and that the active ingredient was safe to the environment.
The Court has ordered that the Commission suspend the non-inclusion of Napropamide until 7 May 2010 effectively allowing products such as Devrinol and Colzamid to continue to be marketed across Europe.
“Growers across Europe have been relying on Devrinol and Colzamid for more than 20 years to provide safe, economical and effective weed control in a wide variety of commercial crops,” said Chris Hepworth, European Herbicide Manager for United Phosphorus in a statement.
“United Phosphorus have worked tirelessly to achieve the reinstatement of the registrations and will continue to work with the relevant authorities to secure the ongoing registration of these products”.
“Napropamide has excellent levels of efficacy against weeds and is a vital means of protecting crop yields and performance. The re-instatement of the registrations is important for farmers and growers and will enable them to continue to protect their crops safely and cost effectively,” he added.
