Banned chemical reintroduced to agriculture market

16:10:20 27th October 2009

A chemical known to harm vegetable crops has been made available again after sales were suspended in 2008.

Dow AgroSciences had temporarily banned Aminopyalid after complaints that manure containing it was contaminating plants, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) reported.

However, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides has given the green light for the chemical to be reintroduced after it declared it was satisfied with the safeguards put in place by Dow AgroSciences.

The firm's principal biologist for grassland herbicides Andy Bailey said the new measures, which include educating farmers on the use of the chemical, should negate any risk being passed on to garden and greenhouse enthusiasts.

"However, it remains good practice to know the provenance of any manure as other materials can contaminate manure," Mr Bailey added.

Meanwhile, the RHS recently urged British consumers to buy English apples to help UK orchards make the best of a bumper season.

It noted that 65 per cent of apples sold during the English season are imported.