Mancozeb registration prolonged till December 2008 in the Netherlands

UK - January 15, 2004

“Following the green light of Approval in the Netherlands for the 2003 season earlier last year, mancozeb’s future registration is now secure with the Dutch registration committee accepting the CTB’s (which is the equivalent to our PSD) proposal and with registration being prolonged up until December 2008. This is excellent news and will mean a positive future position for such a major fungicide,” comments Nick Gooch, Marketing Specialist for Dow AgroSciences.

Mancozeb, marketed as Dithane*, is recognised as a vital protectant fungicide that gives high levels of protection against potato blight, which is a devastating disease across Europe, as well as the control of many diseases in bulbs, cereals, oilseed rape and other crops. It is particularly important as an alternative and multi-sited product and it is the key element of resistance management programs against late blight, either as a straight product or in co-formulation. There is no known resistance to mancozeb. Mancozeb continues to be in demand by growers and is regarded as one of the best and the most cost-effective protectant product on the market.

Mancozeb is currently in the EU Annex 1 Review process, with Italy being the Rapporteur country. Its progress is expected to result in Annex 1 listing in 2004.

Dithane NT contains 75% mancozeb, formulated as a New Technology Water Dispersible Granule. The dose rate for Dithane NT on potatoes is 2.0kg/ha, with the option of a lower rate of 1.7kg/ha when blight risk is low. It has spray intervals of 7, 10 or 14 days and a harvest interval of 7 days. In terms of practicality, Dithane NT has no LERAP restrictions, rainfastness of one hour and no restrictions on the number of sprays per crop.