HL Deb 18 May 2004 vol 661 cc82-6WA
Lord Rotherwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which pesticides are permitted on organic crops. [HL2693]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)

The pesticides currently permitted under the European regulation on organic production, Regulation (EEC)2092/91, can be found in the following tables taken from Annex II part B of the regulation.

They may be used in the UK only in so far as approval is given for their use under the relevant UK legislation. ☼indicates the active ingredients that are currently approved pesticide products for use in agriculture, horticulture or the home garden in the UK.

ANNEX II

B Pestiides

1. Substances of crop or animal origin.

Name Description; compositional requirements; conditions for use
Azadirachtin extracted from Insecticide
zadirachta indica. (Neem tree) Need recognised by inspection body
(*) Beeswax Pruning Agent
Gelatine Insecticide
(*) Hydrolysed proteins Attractant Only in authorised applications in combination with other appropriate products of this Annex II, part B
Lecithin Fungicide
Plant oils (e.g. mint oil, pine oil, caraway oil) Insecticide, acaricide, fungicide and sprout inhibitor
☼ Pyrethrins extracted from Insecticide
Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium. Need recognised by inspection body
Quassia extracted from Insecticide, repellent
Quassia amara.
☼ Rotenone extracted from Insecticide
Derris spp. and Lonchocatpus spp. and Terphrosia spp. Need recognised by inspection body

II Micro-organisms used for biological pest control

Name Description; compositional requirements; conditions for use
Micro-organisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) e.g. ☼ Bacillus thuringensis, Granulosis virus, etc. Only products not genetically modified in the meaning of Directive 90/220/EEC1
1OJ No L117, 8.5.1990, p. 15.

III. Substances to be used in traps and/or dispensers General conditions:

  • the traps and/or dispensers must prevent the penetration of the substances in the environment and prevent contact of the substances with the crops under cultivation.
  • the traps must be collected after use and disposed of safely.

Name Description; compositional requirements; conditions for use
(*) Diammonium phosphate Attractant only in traps
☼ Metaldehyde Molluscicide
only in traps containing a repellent to higher animal species
only during a period expiring 31 March 2006
Pheromones Attractant; sexual behaviour disrupter
only in traps and dispensers

Name Description; compositional requirements; conditions for use
Pyrethroids (only deltamethrin or lambdacyhalothrin) Insecticide only in traps with specific attractants; only against Batrocera oleae and Ceratitis capitata wied
Need recognised by inspection body
(*) In certain Member States the products [market] with (*) are not considered as plant protection products and are not subject to the provisions of the plant protection products legislation.

IIIA Preparations to be surface-spread between cultivated plants

Name Description; compositional requirements; conditions for use
☼ Iron (III) orthophosphate Molluscicide

IV Other substances from traditional use in organic farming

Name Description; compositional requirements; conditions for use
Copper in the form of Fungicide
☼copper hydroxide, Until 31 December 2005 up to a maximum of 8 kg copper per hectare per year, and from 1 January 2006 up to 6 kg copper per ha per year, without prejudice to a more limited quantity if laid down under the specific terms of the general legislation on plant protection products in the Member State where the product is to be used.
☼copper oxychloride, (tribasic) ☼copper sulphate, cuprous oxide
For perennial crops. Member States may, by derogation to the previous paragraph, provide that the maximum levels apply as follows:
the total maximum quantity used from March 2002 until 31 December 2006 shall not exceed 38 kg copper per ha; from 1 January 2007, the maximum quantity which may be used each year per ha shall be calculated by subtracting the quantities actually used in the 4 preceding years from, respectively, 36, 34, 32 and 30 kg copper for the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and following years.
Need recognised by the inspection body
☼(*) Ethylene Degreening bananas
☼Fatty acid potassium salt (soft soap) Insecticide
(*) Potassium alum (Kalinite) Prevention of ripening of bananas

Name Description; compositional requirements; conditions for use
Lime sulphur (Calcium polysulphide) Fungicide, insecticide, acaricide
Need recognised by inspection body
☼Paraffin oil Insecticide, acaricide
Mineral Oils Insecticide, fungicide only in fruit trees, vines, olive trees and tropical crops (e.g. bananas)
Need recognised by inspection body

Name Description; compositional requirements; conditions for use
Potassium permanganate Fungicide, bactericide only in fruit trees, olive trees and vines
(*) Quartz sand Repellent
☼Sulphur Fungicide, acaricide, repellent
(*) In certain Member States the products marked with (*) are not considered as plant protection products and are not subject to the provisions of the plant protection products legislation.

2. Products for pest and disease control in livestock buildings and installations:

Products listed in section 1 of Annex IIB.

Rodenticides.