A survey of 400 farmers and growers in the UK has shown real concerns over the potential loss of azole-based fungicides.

The European Commission is working towards a definition of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which have been linked to a range of serious illnesses.

In late September, the commission launched a consultation that could result in a scientific basis for an EDC that could include key classes of crop protection products such as azole-based fungicides.

But a survey, carried out for Bayer CropScience, found that more than 98% of farmers believed the loss of azoles would “seriously affect” their businesses.

See also: EU azoles review threatens fungicides’ future

In addition, 96% said it would result in a decrease in cereal yields. Other concerns included reduced yields of oilseed rape and decreased vegetable production.

“This piece of legislation, if inappropriately implemented, will not just affect azole fungicides, of course, but many other important crop protection products.”
Don Pendergast

Farmers were also concerned that the loss of azoles would compromise their ability to control septoria, increase costs of disease control and the dangers of diseases becoming resistant to other fungicides.

NFU plant health adviser Don Pendergast said: “The results of this survey show that UK farmers and growers do understand the implications to them and their businesses of losing whole key classes of chemistry.

“This piece of legislation, if inappropriately implemented, will not just affect azole fungicides, of course, but many other important crop protection products.”

The survey of 400 farmers represented more than 130,000ha of cereals, 33,000ha of oilseed rape and 1,600ha of vegetables.

The European Commission public consultation, which is open until 16 January 2015, is looking for views on how to regulate chemicals in the environment in terms of their ability to interact with the endocrine (hormone) system.

The NFU has urged farmers, agronomists or anyone else involved in food production concerned about this potential legislation to add their concerns to the consultation.

The research for Bayer was carried out by David Chilvers Associates, an independent consultancy run by David Chilvers, who is a Fellow of the UK Market Research Society.