The European Union (EU) has renewed the approval of the plant growth regulator maleic hydrazide (MH), but industry experts warn that growers will have to take into account new regulatory requirements which will apply to all products containing MH.

According to new EU regulations, MH products are now required to contain lower levels of hydrazine to meet tightening restrictions on metabolites. Most significantly, under EU regulation (2017/1506) crops treated using MH products can no longer be fed to livestock. In the UK, the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) has confirmed that all crop protection products containing MH must now carry on the label the phrase ‘Do not feed to livestock’.

These restrictions apply to all MH products from the authorisation holders from 1 November 2018. However, MH products placed on the market before 1 November 2018 which do not comply with the new requirement (i.e. existing labelled stock) have been allowed a grace period of six months for sale, and a further 12 months for use.

CRD has also requested that authorization holders and industry partners develop and implement a stewardship program to ensure compliance with the restriction and the continued safe use of MH so that product registrations can be maintained.

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