Farming Monthly National November 2017 | Page 16

| Potatoes New product labels tighten laws further on CIPC application The latest changes to CIPC product labels, introducing new requirements for lower application rates, have been confirmed by the CRD (Chemicals Regulation Division). o Fan - No Fog Critically, fans will be required as part of the application process. CIPC must be actively recirculated during application and until the fog has cleared. The Potato Industry CIPC Stewardship Group (PICSG) has been running the ‘No Fan, No Fog’ campaign for over three years in preparation for this decision. The NAAC CIPC Applicators Group has confirmed that applications will not be made if fog is not able to be recirculated. This is to achieve uniform distribution and residue control as well as efficacy at the lower dose rates. New rates for 2017/18 season For this season, the new statutory limits for total dose, approved by the Chemicals Regulation Division of HSE are 36 grams/tonne for processing (including fish & chip shop supplies and peeling) and 24 g/t for the fresh market. The maximum individual dose is reduced to 12g/tonne. The latest time of application is 14 days before removal from store for sale or processing and is another statutory requirement. Additionally, Stewardship best practice, endorsed by the NAAC’s CIPC Applicator Group and Red Tractor Farm Assurance, continues to allow just one application (now up N 16 | Farming Monthly | November 2017 to 12 g/t) in cold stores as CIPC residue declines more slowly at low temperature. This applies to all stores that will be held below 5°C. This application should be made early in storage during pull-down, before the temperature is decreased below 7°C, for maximum efficacy. Mike Storey, AHDB’s Head of Resource Management and Chair of PICSG, said: “As the 2017 store loading season builds, many store managers will be considering their first CIPC apllication.” “The labels now state that Stewardship best practice must be complied with, and so it is a legal requirement that both an NAAC applicator is used to apply CIPC and active recirculation of the store air/fog takes place during and after treatment. This will help ensure compliance with the Maximum Residue Level (MRL of 10 mg/kg)” In stores with positive ventilation (bulk stores and some box stores), active recirculation is most easily achieved by fitting a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) and using the store’s ventilation system. In overhead throw box stores, active recirculation can be brought about using an air separator or duct at the end of the store to create an ‘open suction’ system. Alternatively, fan-assisted plenums placed within box stacks will ensure active recirculation can be achieved. Different approaches are detailed in the PICSG’s CIPC Application: A Store Owner’s Guide, which is available at http://www.cipccompliant.co.uk/uploads/filema n/cipcapplicationguide.pdf It is recommended that users consult their NAAC CIPC Applicator to discuss this requirement now to ensure that, if steps have not yet bee n taken to modify stores, applications can still be made this season. Finally, it is important to note any food, feed or seed, other than ware potatoes, should not be held in stores, which have been treated with CIPC. This is because CIPC penetrates the store fabric and is then re-released risking damaging seed and potentially contaminating food and feed. The Maximum Residue Level for CIPC in anything other than potatoes is the limit of detection (0.01mg/kg). For further information, see the PICSG ‘Be CIPC Compliant’ website - www.cipccompliant.co.uk Mike Storey said: “The information on the PICSG website is designed to be accessible, however additional storage advice is available, free of charge, from AHDB’s world-class crop storage research facility at Sutton Bridge. Storage managers can call free on 0800 02 82 111” www.farmingmonthly.co.uk