Farmers or agronomists who discover products in farm stores containing the herbicide isoproturon (IPU) should arrange for prompt and proper disposal and not be tempted to use or recommend it under any circumstances, the Voluntary Initiative (VI) has warned.

UK approval for all products containing IPU was revoked by ministers on March 19, 2007, after a review of its impact on the aquatic environment. Farmers had until June 30, 2009 to use up or dispose of any remaining stocks - use or storage after that date is now illegal.

Patrick Goldsworthy, VI manager, said: “If anyone finds any products containing IPU still lurking in farm stores they must not be tempted, under any circumstances, to use or recommend them. The only option is to arrange for prompt and proper disposal through a waste disposal contractor.

“All farmers need to act responsibly when using pesticides. Water quality monitoring is increasing and both regulators and water companies will be monitoring for IPU. Minute quantities of pesticides can be detected and so if any IPU is used, even in very small quantities, it will quickly be detected. This will undermine confidence in the industry’s ability to comply with regulation let alone deliver voluntary measures. In addition, if the farmer is identified, this could mean loss of single farm payments and enforcement action.”