Crop-harming chemical to go on sale once more

16:44 27th October 2009

A firm which removed a product from shelves in 2008 due to complaints that it was harming vegetable crops in gardens and allotments has won its case to market it once more.

Dow AgroSciences stopped selling Aminophyalid after garden and greenhouse enthusiasts complained it was harming their plants.

However, a range of new measures has convinced the Advisory Committee on Pesticides to give the green light for the chemical to be marketed once again.

The firm has promised to educate farmers so that manure containing traces of the product is not sold to garden or allotment owners.

Dow AgroSciences principal biologist for grassland herbicides Andy Bailey said this should help guard against any harm being caused to crops in future.

"However, it remains good practice to know the provenance of any manure as other materials can contaminate manure," the expert added.

Meanwhile, the RHS recently advised garden and greenhouse enthusiasts to consider buying an acer to inject some colour into their autumn landscape.