Potato industry must work together to eliminate CIPC residues

The whole potato industry must work together to eliminate CIPCresidue anomalies or the sprout suppressant will be lost, visitors to the recent Potato Council storage day at G H Chennells Farms in Lincolnshire were told.

New limits on both total CIPC applications and residues were now in place, after the re-registration process. But the Advisory Committee on Pesticides had asked for further action on residues, said Mike Storey, Potato Council research and development director.

"We won't get a second chance,"he said. "Random sampling by the authorities has shown that there's potential to exceed the 10mg/kg maximum residue limit, even when applications have been made according to best practice."

As a result, the CIPC Stewardship Group was formed in January, with Dr Storey appointed as chairman. Members include researchers, grower groups, packers, processors and agrochemical companies.

"We've been tasked with coming up with an action plan which meets the requirements for reducing these residue anomalies. We have to demonstrate that we are a responsible industry."