Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One learns something new every day. This is a response to allow for the use of products containing copper in certain circumstances in organic farming systems. It is, therefore, permissible. One application for authorisation of a product containing the active substance, copper oxychloride, was received in March this year and it is anticipated there will be a decision on that soon. It is also anticipated there will be more applications. It is true that there is no product on the market but one was applied for three months ago. Perhaps that is why people are saying there is a difficulty. The EU permits copper use but each member state has to deal with each specific application because there are different compositions in products. They should not be contaminated but they may be and that has to be scrutinised.

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