AQW 13195/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 11/06/2024
Answered On Date: 21/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on access to plant protection products.

Answer:

My officials, along with Defra officials and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in GB, continue to monitor plant protection product (PPP) availability and regulatory divergence between GB and NI. Whilst we will endeavour to address the impacts faced by PPP users through domestic solutions where possible, it must be recognised that all actions must be taken according to the legislative framework within which we work.

Where the EU and GB conditions of PPP renewal allow, and subject to the authorisation holder requesting the inclusion of NI within the scope of the authorisation, HSE continues to issue PPP authorisations common to both GB and NI enabling NI growers access to the same products as GB growers.

I recognise that we are witnessing increasing commercial withdrawals of PPP authorisations and decisions not to bring new PPPs to the market in NI. My officials have been engaging with representatives of the crop protection industry and users of PPPs to discuss availability issues. I have asked officials to continue this engagement to help raise awareness of the authorisation application types, available for the NI market, as alternatives to standard applications, such as mutual recognition and parallel trade permits. An advice page has also been prepared which will be published on the DAERA website in the coming weeks.