Thursday, 15 May 2014
Extensions for the Use of Highly Hazardous Chemicals in UK
Extensions for the Use of Highly Hazardous Chemicals in UK
Certification bodies have applied on behalf of their woodland-owning clients for extensions to the periods during which they can continue to use four highly hazardous chemicals. The use of these chemicals (Cypermethrin, Alpha-Cypermethrin, Aluminium Phosphide and Warfarin) is prohibited by FSC unless approved by its Pesticides Committee.
Extensions of three years have been granted for Cypermethrin and Alpha-Cypermethrin (to June 2017), but no extension has been allowed for Aluminium Phosphide and Warfarin. These pesticides cannot be used in FSC-certified woodland from 16 June onwards.
Afternote: After having rejected a renewal of the derogation for the use of Warfarin in UK in May 2014, the Pesticides Committee agreed to reassess the application in the light of the information and the feedback submitted by the applicants and their certification bodies.
Since then, the Pesticides Committee has collected further information and asked for advice on this matter to different experts, FSC UK, certification bodies and a representative of the FSC Board of Directors.
The committee met on 13th August 2014 and after analysing all the feedback received has approved until the 30th September 2015 a renewal of the derogation for the use of use Warfarin for controlling grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) in certified forests/plantations in the United Kingdom, provided that the certificate holders comply with the requirements described FSC-DER-30-001 V2, which can be downloaded below.