[compost_tea] Scary stuff

From: Tom Jaszewski <tom_at_livesoil.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 20:49:21 -0000

Pesticides Safety Directorate
UK




22 October 2003

PSD wrote to you 9 October 2001 (All Approval Holders Letter (AAHL)
18/2001) regarding `Nutritional' Amenity products. Since then, we
have seen many other products claiming to increase plants' resistance
to pests or disease by nutritional means. This guidance replaces AAHL
18/2001, and applies to all products claiming increased disease
resistance via nutritional means, not solely those marketed for
amenity use.

PSD bases its decisions on whether a product falls within the scope
of the Control of Pesticides Regulations (as amended) or the Plant
Protection Product Regulations (as amended) on 3 main criteria: the
product's active ingredients; its mode of action; and the intended
purpose of the product, as detailed in label/promotional literature
claims.

For example, general claims to increase resistance to disease by the
following means are outside the scope of the pesticides legislation:

By ensuring adequate nutrition;
By giving resistance to a disorder which is related to nutrient
deficiencies (such as internal rust spot in potatoes);
By increasing populations of beneficial soil micro-organisms, thereby
outcompeting soil-borne diseases.
However, PSD has recently seen examples of products claiming to
enhance plants' resistance to specific diseases (such as Botrytis)
which, in PSD's experience, cannot be prevented by adequate nutrition
alone. Both plants with nutrient deficiencies and healthy plants with
all the necessary nutrients are likely to be susceptible. PSD
therefore takes the view that products claiming to give increased
plants' resistance to these types of diseases are effectively plant
protection products, and are within the scope of the pesticides
legislation.

Products based on recognised pesticide active substances, and/or
working by exerting a direct control on pests or diseases, will also
be regarded as being within the scope of United Kingdom (UK)
pesticides legislation regardless of label or product literature
claims. Conversely, making claims of direct disease control would
bring a product otherwise outside the scope of UK pesticides
legislation within its remit.

Please also note that while products acting purely as nutrients are
outside the scope of the pesticides legislation, products influencing
the life processes of plants (for example, growth regulators) are
within scope.








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Received on Thu Jan 13 2005 - 17:15:50 EST

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