Forestry Network Newsletter

// Coillte's exploits pesticides export loophole

UK nurseries have suffered from Coillte's undercutting of their market by dumping left over plants from the failed Irish forestry program on the UK market for some time, especially as they take up the quota allocate by the UK Forestry Commission to the 'private' sector. Now they are particularly bitter about Coillte's import into the UK of seedlings which have been impregnated with flexicoat and insecticides together.

A plant polysaccharide (Flexcoat) with adhesive properties is added to the insecticide Cypermethrin to bind it effectively to the seedlings. In the Minister's first reply to Tony Gregory's PQ, he said the company 'advises that it has received clearance for this from the Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD) in the UK'

When Gregory followed up for FIE with a letter from the UK PSD saying they had not authorized Flexicoat and Cypermethrin applied together, the Minister said they were 'not in breach of any United Kingdom Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD) standards or guidelines relating to the export of cypermethrin-flexcoat treated trees into the UK market.'

UK companies must apply the insecticide and the adhesive polsacchairide seperatly, resulting in a higher cost. A loophole - which Coillte is exploiting without concern for the potential impact on handlers in Ireland and the UK or on the environment - permits import of plants into the UK that have been treated without UK PSD approval. Read the PQs.

http://friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/?do=fnn&action=view&id=211

10 July 2008

478. Deputy Tony Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assure this Deputy that forestry workers are not in danger from the use by the State Forestry Board, Coillte Teo, in Ireland and for export, of flexicoat impregnated with insecticides used to treat trees and seedlings and that chemicals in use have been fully tested and have formal approval here and in the country of export. [28448/08]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith):

Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters are the responsibility of the company. I have, however, been advised by Coillte that they take the safety of forest workers very seriously and that they implement effective safety controls in all its operations.

I understand from the company that they treat some young seedlings with Cypermethrin (Forester), an insecticide for the protection of these seedlings from the Large Pine Weevil. A plant polysaccharide (Flexcoat) with adhesive properties is added to the insecticide to bind it effectively to the seedlings. Cypermethrin has been fully approved and authorised for use in forestry in Ireland by the Pesticide Control Service (PCS) of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Authorisation PSC No. 02533). Flexcoat is not a pesticide and does not require authorisation. Coillte exports treated seedlings to the United Kingdom and the company advises that it has received clearance for this from the Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD) in the UK.

4th November, 2008.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he plans to continue to allow Coillte Teo to treat seedlings for use here and for export to the United Kingdom with a combination of flexicoat and cypermethrine despite the fact that this combination has not been approved by the Pesticide Safety Directorate in the United Kingdom and that in the United Kingdom, Coillte's competitors are required to apply flexicoat as a separate application in the interest of the safety of workers.
- Tony Gregory. 38489/08

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, contrary to what he states, Coillte Teo, informed him and he in turn informed this Deputy in his response to a written parliamentary question on 10 July, 2008, that the Pesticide Safety Directorate in the United Kingdom has not approved the use of flexicoat when added to cypermethrine.
- Tony Gregory. Ref No: 38489/08

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: (Brendan Smith)

I propose to take questions_38488 and 38489 together. Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988, and day-to-day operational matters are the responsibility of the company.

I have, however, been advised by Coillte that, to protect young seedlings against the Large Pine Weevil, the company dips seedlings in a flexcoat and cypermethrin mix prior to dispatch from its nurseries. Cypermethrin is registered as an approved pesticide by the Pesticide Control Service (PCS) of my Department while Flexcoat does not require registration as it is outside the scope of the current legislation (because it acts by creating a physical barrier to harmful organisms) and consequently does not require registration and approval in Ireland.

The company assure me that it is not in breach of any United Kingdom Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD) standards or guidelines relating to the export of cypermethrin-flexcoat treated trees into the UK market and that UK PSD does not regulate pre-treatment of products prior to their entry into the UK. Coillte are of the view that flexcoat and cypermethrin are applied separately in the UK as the combination of the chemicals there would be to use those chemicals in a way in which they are not licensed.

Coillte further advise that this combination of flexcoat with cypermethrin has facilitated a 25% reduction in cypermethrin usage in its nurseries. In terms of worker and environmental safety, the company anticipates that prolonging the efficacy of cypermethrin (through the use of flexcoat) will reduce the need for top-up sprays after planting. A further reduction of pesticide usage after planting must be considered beneficial in terms of the health and safety of forest workers and also the environment. In addition, by applying the chemical in the controlled environment of a dipping unit the company is reducing the threat of spray drift, which again can only be beneficial to workers and the environment. Another factor is that reduced chemical usage is one of the core principles of Sustainable Forest Management.

The usage of pesticides is an operational matter for the company and, once this is compliant with the relevant standards and guidelines, I have no plans to intervene in this matter.

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Mon 21/07/2008 11:16
Hello Tony

Further to our telephone conversation last week I am writing to confirm there is no UK approval for the adjuvant called 'Flexicoat'.

Kind Regards

Ruth

Ms Ruth Rogers
Pesticides Registration and Enforcement Policy Branch
Pesticides Safety Directorate
Room 320, Mallard House
Kings Pool
3 Peasholme Green
York
YO1 7PX

Tel: 01904 455771
e-mail: ruth.rogers@psd.hse.gsi.gov.uk
website: www.pesticides.gov.uk

ENDS