A number of approval requirements for various active substances in pre-treatment agents have changed since 1 January 2012. This has implications for the product specifications of the crops below:
Changes to Chrysal RVB
At the request of cultivators, the Chrysal RVB solution, with aluminium sulphate as an active substance, has once again received approval to be used with certain products, including the (cut) Hydrangea. The (cut) Hydrangea product specification now states that the (cut) Hydrangea must be pre-treated with RVB.
Use of Chrysal RVB for other crops which have approval from the CTGB (Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides) will initially be advisory only. This applies to the following product specifications:
· Symphoricarpos
· Achillea
· Solidago
· Tanacetum (Matricaria)
Change to quaternary ammonium compound
Approval for pre-treatment agents Chrysal MWD, FLORISSANT 400 and Bactoflor (active substance quaternary ammonium connection) expired on 1 July 2011. These agents had to be used up by 31 December 2011. The obligation to pre-treat products with quaternary ammonium compound should be removed from the following product specifications:
· Aster
· Summer flowers:
- Astilbe
- Carthamus
- Gentiana
· Cut and decorative green:
- Cotinus
· Gypsophila
· Solidago/Solidaster
· Leucospermum
· Protea
· General product specification for cut flowers
As of 1 February 2012, these product specifications will state that it is mandatory to pre-treat products with chlorine tablets (sodium dichloroisocyanurate). The only branded chlorine tablets permitted for use are FLORISSANT 500N and Chrysal CVBN.
Possible alternatives:
Liquid chlorine; sodium hypochlorite* (brand name FLORISSANT 520) is approved for use under the following conditions only:
* The agent may only be applied by growers that have obtained permission from the auction.
* The agent may only be applied by growers that pre-treat their products with the agent year around, or at least for a product’s full supply season.
* The agent may be applied only if the grower buys a new container with the agent at least every four weeks and if he can demonstrate this by presentation of the relevant purchase or delivery receipts.