Why is there a MRL change?
New regulatory rules have been put in place to ensure that there is a single review programme of maximum residue levels (MRLs) that is based upon complete data packages that conform to modern standards. This is an industry issue and some 300 active ingredients will be covered by the review, which it is anticipated to take 3-4 years to complete.
Diquat has now completed the process and the MRLs for some crops will very shortly be reduced. These new MRLs will impact REGLONE and other diquat products with a similar label.
This is the result of the specific and ongoing industry-wide MRL review for hundreds of active ingredients and it is not directly related to the ongoing general re-registration of diquat.
What crops are affected?
As of 14 July 2016, the diquat MRLs for ‘barley, maize and wheat’ will be reduced with immediate effect - there will be no sell out or use-up period. Reglone is directly impacted by barley’s new lower MRL which will be 0.02 mg/kg. As always with an MRL reduction producers remain responsible for meeting the new restrictions, and will need to be aware of the increased risk of MRL exceedance.
Syngenta UK Limited has taken the decision, for a number of reasons, to no longer advertise any cereal crops as supported uses on the label for Reglone on new packs (ie laid barley and oats for animal feed are being phased out from the printed label on new packs sold). This is separate from any formal amendment of the existing product authorisation by CRD. The Reglone MAPP will not change (MAPP 10534).
There is no impact for producers who are only applying Reglone to non-cereal crops that are on the label.
For several other crops the diquat MRLs will also be amended, but only with effect from 14 January 2017. However, the 14 January 2017 MRL amendments will not affect other uses on the Reglone label.
Growers and agronomists are strongly advised take this information into account, given the short time frame until harvest.