Chemical controls

摘要

Changes to the way chemicals are registered for use in the protected ornamentals sector are likeiy to reduce sharply the range available to growers, leaving many having to rethink their whole approach to pest and disease control. In recent years, ornamentals growers have got used to periodic withdrawal of pesticides and other agents from suppliers' shelves. And in many cases chemical companies have kept step by releasing substitute products to meet the same needs. But European legislation currently being enacted (HW, 1 May) will mean that the sector will no longer be able to "piggy-back" on the approvals process for the much larger edibles sector. And separate registration for ornamentals alone will in many cases not be cost-effective for suppliers.