Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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457. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position in relation to the use of an active substance (details supplied) used in essential herbicide crop protection products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9751/20]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Diquat is has been widely used as a crop desiccant, including for the desiccation of haulm in potato crops. Following an EU review process, which concluded in 2018, the active substance approval was withdrawn. This decision was implemented through Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/1532.

Withdrawal of approval was due to risks identified by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in relation to the areas of human health and the environment. Various risk mitigation options were evaluated by Member State technical experts following the EFSA review but could not be shown to allow safe use. Product authorisations were withdrawn by 4 May 2019 and the last allowed date of use was 4 February 2020.

It is within the competence of individual Member States in certain circumstances to issue emergency approvals, for a short period, under Article 53 of Regulation EC No 1107/2009. However, when deciding 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.