Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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791. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of EU countries to which his attention has been drawn as having applied for an emergency exemption to allow for the continued use of the herbicide diquat (details supplied); if he will apply for an exemption on behalf of Ireland; if his Department has carried out an assessment of the impact that the removal of the herbicide will have on the potato sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9416/20]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Currently, four Member States (Finland, Greece, Hungary and Slovenia) have issued emergency authorisations for the use of products containing diquat, including for the destruction/desiccation of haulm in potato crops.  It is within the competence of individual Member States to issue such approvals, under Article 53 of Regulation EC No 1107/2009. 

Diquat was non-approved in the EU due to risks identified by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) in the areas of human health and the environment.  It is important to point out also that when the decision to non-approve this substance was taken, various risk mitigation options were evaluated but could not be shown to allow safe use.

In making a decision in respect of any emergency authorisation, my Department carefully considers the specific reasons why use of a product may be sought and potential impacts on human and environmental health that could arise from its use.  Due to the risks identified during the recent assessment process, it is not proposed to issue emergency approval at this time. 

I understand that both Teagasc and the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board in the UK have carried out trials with alternative products and also physical removal of haulm by flailing.