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Written question asked by James Wild (Conservative) on Tuesday, 13 April 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 April 2021. It was answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 April 2021 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Potatoes: Storage

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of licensing DMN for use in potato storage.

Answer

Before a pesticide can be used, its active substance must be approved and the pesticide itself must be authorised. Decisions on approval and authorisation are based on an assessment of the risks posed to people and to the environment. Such decisions are devolved and so are taken by the relevant government or by the Health and Safety Executive on its behalf.

The active substance 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (1,4-DMN) is approved but at present there is no authorised product. The UK Government and the Devolved Administrations have granted an emergency authorisation allowing the limited and controlled use until 31 May 2021 of a 1,4-DMN product to prevent sprouting of harvested potatoes. This emergency authorisation is granted in recognition of the need for sprout suppression and the lack, in certain circumstances, of alternative means of control.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
180626
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Chemicals Potatoes Storage
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk