The continued availability of Devrinol, AC 650 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, strawberries, brassicas, cane fruits, ornamentals and forestry.

The decision by the European Commission to revoke the registration of the active ingredient has been over-turned by a recent court ruling, safeguarding the future availability of napropamide based herbicides for growers throughout the UK and Europe.

In November 2008, the European Commission voted, due to environmental concerns, to withdraw all products containing napropamide from sale with effect from May 7. Farmers would subsequently have 12 months to use any remaining stocks. An appeal against this decision was submitted by United Phosphorus who believed that the decision was ill founded and that the active ingredient was indeed safe to the environment.

A subsequent hearing at the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg has ruled in favour of an interim relief order being issued. In this landmark decision The Court has ordered that the European Commission suspend the non-inclusion of napropamide until May 7 2010, effectively allowing products such as Devrinol and AC 650 to continue to be sold in the UK and across Europe for an additional year.

The UK Chemicals Regulation Directorate has acted swiftly to issue a notice rescinding the previous revocation of napropamide products.

Chris Hepworth, European herbicide manager for United Phosphorus, said: “Growers in the UK have been relying on Devrinol for more than 20 years to provide safe, economical and effective weed control in a wide range of commercial crops. 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 availability of these products”.