Australia approval for BASF’s Butisan herbicide

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has approved BASF’s herbicide Butisan (metazachlor 500 g/litre) for pre-emergent control of annual ryegrass, wild oats and wireweed in canola.

Metazachlor belongs to the chemical class of chloroacetamides and acts by a complex mode of action involving disruption of fatty acid syntheses. Butisan Herbicide acts as a pre-and post-emergence herbicide. Butisan Herbicide enters target plants primarily through the roots, the hypocotyl, and the cotyledons of the germinating and emerging weeds. It has, therefore, its best herbicidal effectiveness during early development stages of the weeds.

Butisan Herbicide is active against a broad range of mono and dicotyledonous weeds. Since it acts via both the roots and the developing shoot, it can be used pre-emergence as well as (early) post emergence.

Herbicides containing metazachlor are currently registered for use in various crops in United Kingdom and other European countries, Taiwan and Chile. Butisan Herbicide is registered in the United Kingdom and some other European countries for use in canola.