What is next for metaldehyde slug-control pellets?

摘要

It is once again legal to use metaldehyde slug pellets in agriculture, horticulture and gardens, and to sell them in garden centres and supply them to professional horticulturists. This development comes after UK manufacturer Chiltern Farm Chemicals challenged Defra by way of judicial review in the High Court over former environment secretary Michael Gove's decision to ban metaldehyde slug pellet products last December.In late July, the Government conceded the judicial review claim. This means that Chiltern has been successful and the decision not to reregister and to revoke the existing metaldehyde authorisations has been quashed and is no longer of any effect. Chiltern director Philip Tavener says: "A few days before a hearing was due to take place in the High Court, the Government conceded that its decision-making process was flawed. The decision was unlawful. Metaldehyde is back on the market and we've reverted to where we were eight months ago. The sell-out and use-up periods previously put in place no longer apply. It's business as usual."