European Union bans use of chlorothalonil fungicide, including Bravo

European growers soon will have one less fungicide tool at their disposal.

The European Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) has voted down renewing the approval of chlorothalonil, which had recently been classified as a category one carcinogen by the European Chemical Agency. Use of chlorothalonil, including Syngenta’s Bravo, will likely be banned in Europe by next spring, reported CPM.

Chlorothalonil has been widely used in the United States since the mid-1960s. It’s often used to protect potatoes, peanuts, tomatoes, stonefruits and other vegetables, as well as to maintain golf courses.

“Factor in that this product is still going to be allowed to be used in other countries out with the EU, then this is disastrous for our growers,” Ian Sands, chairman of NFU Scotland’s Combinable Crops Committee, told CPM.

For more information on chlorothalonil, visit the EPA’s website.