Urgent bracken control plea to government

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has joined other rural stakeholders asking the Scottish Government to permit the use of an unauthorised herbicide for urgent bracken control.

 

Writing to Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon and Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater this week, SLE said authorisation needs to be provided quickly before the window of opportunity to tackle the growth of bracken is missed.

 

Bracken is a significant issue for farmers and land managers, harbouring ticks, making access and livestock husbandry more difficult and creating an additional wildfire risk in the lsummer.

 

There are currently limited alternatives to the use of Asulox/Asulam but stakeholders and research and development communities are working together to identify a suitable, cost-effective alternative for the medium to long term control of bracken which can ultimately replace it.

 

Dee Ward, chairman of SLE said: “As in previous years, we have written to the Scottish Government requesting that authorisation for the use of Asulox/Asulam for bracken control in Scotland be granted as soon as possible. Without speedy action to authorise Asulox/Asulam, we will miss this year’s season, a vital window for the control of ticks, and face even more tenacious coverage of bracken next year."

 

SLE says there are limited alternatives and although it would like to see eco-friendly alternatives in the future, it remains important it has Asulox/Asulam available against a fast-spreading plant which, if left uncontrolled, results in young trees being overwhelmed. In upland areas, other techniques such as cutting are not practical or affordable.

 

SLE has also urged the government to publish the review detailed in the minutes of the meeting of the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides held on March 14 this year.

 

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government recognises concerns about the potential risks of uncontrolled bracken and other vegetation types in relation to tick populations and transmission of Lyme disease.

 

“Asulox is a herbicide with no current EU or UK authorisation – an emergency authorisation of the product is required to meet specific legislative conditions, to ensure a high level of protection for human health and the environment.

 

“HSE has undertaken that assessment process, and as the UK regulator for pesticides, is responsible for assessing emergency authorisation applications across the UK, including for the Scottish Government.

 

“Scottish Ministers have considered the balance of potential risks associated with use of Asulox and those posed by bracken and promptly responded to HSE’s recommendation. HSE will issue its decision to the applicant once all other UK governments have responded.

 

“We are aware of the importance of effective pesticides when used as part of an integrated approach and our position is guided by regulation and scientific evidence.”

 

Caption: Bracken fern

 

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