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The Environment Minister has ordered an immediate ban on the sale and distribution of the chemical weed killer Linuron.
The pesticide was detected in Jersey waters, including Val de la Mare reservoir, on a number of occasions last year but it has now been banned in an effort to make Jersey water cleaner.
The Department of the Environment and Jersey Water have been working with the farming industry through the ‘Action for Cleaner Water Group’ for some time to improve the water quality of reservoirs, streams and other water sources in Jersey.
Deputy Steve Luce, The Minister for the Environment said: “The ban on pesticides containing Linuron adds to the package of measures already being delivered by the farming and related sectors. It will support the new Water Management Plan by helping to secure the clean water which our health, economic activity and biodiversity relies on. I have discussed the ban with the industry and everyone recognises the need to keep Linuron out of Jersey’s water.”
The Water Management Plan details the steps the Island needs to take to ensure clean and sustainable water supplies from 2017 until 2021. The overall aim of the five-year plan is to ensure better water and improve the quality of the island’s water resources from ‘moderate’ to ‘good’ status.
The decision by the Minister for the Environment includes a ‘use up’ period until 31 December 2017 so farmers can use up any products containing Linuron. A use up period is normal for pesticide withdrawals and is timed so that Linuron will be not used during next year’s potato planting.
Banning Linuro, which is used mainly on the Jersey Royal potato crop, is one of many steps the Action for Cleaner Water Group is taking to ensure clean water supplies for islanders.
Already this season, growers have made significant changes to the way they plant Jersey Royal Potatoes. They are using less fertiliser, ensuring precise application of pesticides and fertilisers that are used, and are also expanding areas used for trialling slow release fertiliser.
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