Oct 28, 2020EU to ban use of mancozeb, which is due for EPA review in US
In Europe, growers will soon be without the availability of the broad-spectrum fungicide mancozeb, which is commonly used to combat late blight.
The European Union’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed recently voted not to renew authorization for mancozeb, according to reports by ENDS Europe and FG Insight (both under paywall).
Health Canada, a federal department responsible for the country’s health policy, has proposed to cancel use of mancozeb. Re-evaluation of future mancozeb use is still pending by the Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency.
Mancozeb is up for review in the U.S., as the EPA’s 15-year registration from 2005 is set to expire. The Draft Risk Assessment was due out this summer but has not yet been released, National Potato Council (NPC) Chief Operating Officer Mike Wenkel told Spudman. Wenkel added that the NPC anticipates the public comment period will open sometime during the first quarter of 2021.
Mancozeb is the latest potato crop protection tool the EU has banned. Currently, phasing out of the potato sprout inhibitor CIPC (chlorpropham) is underway.
