Further restrictions on metaldehyde use may follow in UK

Metaldehyde stewardship guidelines may need to be revised and further restrictions on metaldehyde use required if water quality standards are to continue to be met, industry experts have indicated.

In a statement released last week, water industry representative organisation Water UK said while measures taken to date to protect water had shown benefits, they might be stretched to meet water standards under certain conditions.

"In the first instance the water industry remains committed to working with the MSG [Metaldehyde Stewardship Group], regulators and agricultural stakeholders to ensure metaldehyde does not find its way into rivers and reservoirs and fully support the voluntary measures and catchment management approaches being undertaken.

"If a voluntary approach does not generate sustainable reductions in levels in drinking water sources then it may be necessary for the introduction of tighter environmental restrictions or for water companies to invest in the development of advanced treatment solutions to protect essential water supplies,” said Water UK.

According to Water UK’s Phill Mills, new treatment plants are not the preferred solution because of the costs involved. Working with farmers, agronomists and slug pellet manufacturers under a voluntary approach was the preferred route, but water companies needed to know there were robust and reliable measures to keep metaldehyde out of water in place.

"If we keep getting situations like this year it is going to be difficult,” said Mr Mills.

Voluntary approach

"If a voluntary approach does not generate sustainable reductions in levels of metaldehyde in rivers than restrictions may be imposed to protect essential water supplies,” he added.

MSG chairman David Cameron said he believed metaldehyde stewardship was working but he admitted ‘99.9 per cent’ of growers might need to be on board in terms of following the guidelines to achieve the required reductions in metaldehyde in water.

Metaldehyde has recently achieved Annex 1 listing under the European pesticide re-approvals process and is currently moving through national (Annex 3) approvals processes in individual member states, including the UK.

Commenting on the latest findings of the slug pellet active ingredient in watercourses, Mr Cameron said: “I am sure CRD [Chemicals Regulation Directorate] will look at this whole situation as part of the stewardship process.”

MSG’s Colin Myram said the organisation would look at whether stewardship guidelines needed revising once all water sampling results had been received from water companies.

Hazel Doonan of the Agricultural Industries Confederation said it was vital the farming industry retained a number of slug pellet active ingredients to allow products to be alternated in the interest of sustainable and long-term pesticide best practice.

Metaldehyde stewardship – what has been achieved?

• Metaldehyde Stewardship Group set up in 2008 in response to discovery of traces of slug pellet active ingredient metaldehyde in catchments used for water abstraction

• MSG represents 100 per cent of the agricultural market for metaldehyde slug pellets

• Investigation of the impact of application and equipment cleaning practices on watercourses and subsequent introduction of best practice guidelines and decision trees for slug pellet use

• Practical support and training for farmers and agronomists

• Voluntary changes to statutory label conditions to restrict the maximum dose allowed for one application and one season – statutory maximum of 700g/hectare active substance to be applied in any one calendar year

• Autumn restriction of maximum of 210g/ha metaldehyde applied between August 1 and December 31 set by MSG

• 'Get Pelletwise’ campaign launched to raise awareness and ensure best practice is communicated