HSE have lifted the ban on feeding crop treated with maleic hydrazide to livestock.
The restriction on feeding crops treated with the sprout suppressant, maleic hydrazide (MH) to livestock has been lifted with immediate effect.
Following a review of available data, including studies recently made available by the notifier for maleic hydrazide, the Health and Safety Executive concluded that feeding treated crops to livestock does not pose safety concerns for consumers.
The removal of the restriction applies with immediate effect.
The ban, which came into place last November, meant crops treated with MH products, which is used on potatoes for sprout suppression and volunteer control, could no longer be fed to livestock in the UK.
Mike Storey, technical directorate at AHDB, welcomed the announcement.
“As well as being an extremely welcomed decision, this outcome demonstrates the impact of effective collaboration between authorisation holders, who worked together with industry to devise a robust stewardship scheme, and to provide the data required.
“Given the timeliness of this amendment, and that maleic hydrazide-containing products are being used in fields as we speak, this is excellent news.”