European Parliament votes NO to a ban on herbicides
The European Parliament has voted NO to a ban on herbicides in Public Areas.
The decision made at the plenary session on the Framework Directive for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, 23rd October 2007, spells a reprieve for the entire amenity herbicide industry.
Europe’s rational approach toward herbicide usage was due in part to industry lobbying to educate ministers of the necessity to utilise herbicides in a responsible and sustainable manner.
A complete ban in public areas was thankfully rejected, as were the use of buffer zones around homes which would in effect have prevented footpath weed spraying. Areas used by the general public will now be ‘restricted to the minimal necessary, or prohibited’, spelling the end of inefficient usage of chemicals for control such as blanket weed spraying.
Instead of crippling reduction targets for all herbicides of 50% and 25%; only substances classified as ‘of high concern’ and also ‘toxic and very toxic products’ received reductions of +50% and 50% respectively. Although good news for products with low hazard ratings such as glyphosate, it could be argued that products with a higher hazard rating are only used by professionals trained in their usage, and reductions are unfair and unnecessary.
Fortunately, common sense prevailed over the introduction of 10 metre buffer zones adjacent to water. With the majority of UK streets supported by drainage systems to the sewer, this legislation would have effectively eliminated footpath spraying. Informing all neighbours 48hours in advance of spraying and the ensuing pandemonium this would have created in heavily inhabited areas was ruled out as well.
A further decision to introduce a pesticide tax to finance the introduction of national action plans was avoided, as was a total ban on aerial spraying.
As a result of these rulings, the future environment for weed control spells a clear message of reduction, but not removal.
Companies with innovative approaches to weed control will be the ones to thrive in these increasingly challenging market conditions. Sustainable herbicide technologies such as the Nomix Total Droplet Control (TDC) application system provide the facility to allow herbicide users to reduce chemical applied without affecting environmental quality. Nomix TDC enables accurate application of oil based herbicides in the minimum necessary quantities to eliminate herbicide wastage into the environment.
Specialist herbicide products such as Tordon 22K containing picloram are a sustainable solution to problem weeds such as Japanese Knotweed. By using the most effective product, minimal quantities of herbicide are used for control in the shortest possible time.
Herbicide users also need to step outside the box and look at the overall impact of operations upon the environment. Using operators on foot to spray streets makes weed spraying a far more sustainable option than using vehicles as it reduces the activity’s overall carbon footprint.
Local authorities, rail organisations, private companies, contractors and others within the amenity herbicide industry will be affected by the sustainable usage decisions made in Europe, but rather than fearing the future, can look forward to a new era of greener, safer, and more economic weed control.
For more information on the Framework Directive for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, please visit the European Parliament website at www.europarl.europa.eu or the Pesticides Safety Directorate site www.pesticides.gov.uk. For information on the Nomix TDC range of herbicides and applicators visit www.nomix.co.uk or call Nomix Enviro on 0117 9574574.
