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Rape and turnip rape seeds treated with neonicotinoids can be used from 3 March to 30 June 2014

Tukes
Publication date 24.1.2014 15.47
Press release

The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) has made the decision to permit the sale, marketing and use of rape and turnip rape seeds treated with the products Cruiser OSR, Elado FS 480 and Modesto from 3 March to 30 June 2014. The temporary authorisations only apply to the use of seeds that have already been treated. Tukes does not permit the treatment of new seeds.

The temporary authorisation is granted in order to prevent serious damage by flea beetles.

Last spring, the European Commission restricted the use of products that contain the neonicotinoids imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin as active substances and seeds treated with these products (EU 485/2013), because it was suspected that the active substance causes bee deaths. Of cultivated plants, for example rape and turnip rape are considered attractive to bees.

The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) has applied for temporary authorisation from Tukes for the use of plant protection products containing neonicotinoids.  Preliminary research results by MTT Agrifood Research Finland and the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, indicating that the treatment of seeds by neonicotinoids would not pose a risk to bees in Finland, constitute the reason why temporary authorisations have been granted by Tukes. The decisions make it possible to use seeds that have already been treated before the ban by the European Commission, but they do not permit the treatment of new seeds.

The temporary authorisations apply to the seeds of rape and turnip rape treated with the following products:

  • Cruiser OSR. Active substances: thiamethoxam (CAS no. 153719-23-4) 280 g/l, metalaxyl-M (CAS no. 70630-17-0) 32.3 g/l and fludioxonil (CAS no. 131341-86-1) 8 g/l. Manufacturer: Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Switzerland.
  • Elado FS 480. Active substances: betacyfluthrin (CAS no. 68359-37-5) 80 g/l and clothianidin (CAS no. 210880-92-5) 400 g/l. Manufacturer: Bayer CropScience AG, Germany.
  • Modesto. Active substances: betacyfluthrin (CAS no. 68359-37-5) 80 g/l, clothianidin (CAS no. 210880-92-5) 400 g/l. Manufacturer: Bayer CropScience AG, Germany.

Further information:

Director Esa Nikunen, tel. +358 29 5052 107

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