UK-CRD approves the renewal of PGR Ethy-Gen® II for fruit ripening

Date:07-30-2013

Recently Catalytic Generators gained renewal of their approval for plant growth regulator(PGR) Ethy-Gen® II from the UK Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) of the Health Safety Executive (HSE). The company and their distributor Ripe-Rite take fruit ripening seriously and want their ethylene application equipment to be in compliance with all laws and legislations. That’s why they have spent well over £300,000 in this endeavor.  Since 2007, Ethy-Gen® II has had CRD approval and currently is awarded MAPP No: 15839.

Ethy-Gen® II is used to create ethylene in ripening rooms and sold in the UK for over 30 years, which is an ethanol based product that holds a required approval and consent as a plant growth regulator(PGR) for fruit ripening from the UK Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) of the Health Safety Executive (HSE).

Any product that introduces ethylene to fruit in order to promote ripening is considered a pesticide (plant protection product) and must have from CRD a five figure 'Ministerial Approved Pesticide Product' (MAPP) number that identifies the product.  This means that it has been tested and is safe to use for the purposes stated.

According to the company there are products currently on the UK market being sold to fruit ripeners that do not have CRD approval or MAPP numbers and cannot legally be used to ripen fruit. "It has been brought to our attention that a company is circulating a misleading letter to fruit ripeners stating: 'Companies involved in ripening fruits using the method of denatured ethanol (IDA) to produce ethylene via in-situ ethylene gas generators must be authorised to do so by the Chemicals Regulatory Directorate (CRD).'"

"CRD does not authorise fruit ripening companies to use such products; CRD will only authorise products, and only after an exhaustive investigatory registration process. Denatured ethanol products are legal for sale but under no circumstances can they be legally used to ripen fruit because they have not been registered or approved by CRD." 

Please note that CRD considers any use of un-approved ethanol-based products for plant growth regulatory purposes, effectively fruit ripening, as a breach of the regulations and can incur a penalty, on summary conviction of £5,000 per offence or on conviction of an unlimited fine.

"With CRD approval and consent, Ethy-Gen® II is the best choice for ethylene application for fruit ripening.  Here’s why:

• CRD approved for the use on ripening fruit
• Ethy-Gen® II is sourced from grain not petroleum, making it more environmentally friendly and from renewable sources.
• Ethy-Gen® II and the compounds emitted from its conversion through a catalytic generator have been extensively tested by various bodies as directed by CRD and are approved as proper for the use in ripening fruit.  Unapproved ethanol-based products contain untested and unapproved ingredients and may result in inferior and unsafe by-products.
• Ethy-Gen® II is fully labeled and batch numbered to conform with CRD approval and traceability.
• Comprehensive and regularly updated SDS can be downloaded from their website at any time.