Cocoa SPS: joining-up the science with the regulation

up-dated 5/5/2014

Welcome to our regular web blog, giving cocoa IPM/SPS and related issues in the news around the world, as it relates to:

1. impact of regulation on and cocoa production and trade
2. GAP and IPM measures to mitigate these risks

Issues examined include:

• the ICCO SPS initiative
• 'Pesticide Use in Cocoa 3rd Ed. (2014: beta version)
• Organisational responsibilities and initiatives for cocoa quality in Africa
• 'Strategic cocoa pesticides' list (latest)
• Possible implications for cocoa on the 2013 EU moratorium on certain insecticides)
• Compounds under review
• Understanding potential harm caused by cocoa contaminants
• Helopeltis IPM in Asia
• Cocoa risk management in Ghana
• Policy and technology for management of counterfeit and illegal crop protection products (CPP’s): a CropLife International initiative ...

In the NEWS

• European Crop Protection Association (industry) rolls-out new scheme for water and biodiversity protection (May 2013)
• UN Summit Expected To Adopt New Controls on chemicals including paraquat (May 2013)
• Possible changes to MRLs under EC Regulation 396/2005 (CRD, UK)
  
• More controversy on causes of bee decline (May 2013)
  ... EU moratorium on neonicotinoids: clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. (April 2013)
  ... Cocoa pollination research initiative
• CropLife Africa & the Middle East (Jan. 2013)

• Mission to evaluate the strategy and level of implementation of project activities: participating African countries publish registered lists of pesticides suitable for cocoa (May 2012; French version)
• Increased flexibility for extended periods of grace for superseded pesticide authorisations
(UK CRD, April 2012)
• Workshop on biological alternatives to chemicals: held in Accra, Ghana (March 2012)
• The threat of neo-nicotinoids to bees (March 2012)
  ... more controversy (Feb. 2013)
  ... see an overview (wiki) on the subject and
  ... a response from Bayer
• China promotes and restructures pesticide production (Feb. 2012)
• Cocoa mirid attacks in Cameroon (Jan. 2012)
• EU pesticide ban delay (Jan. 2012)
• Illegal pesticides also a problem in Europe (Jan. 2012)
• CropLife Africa & Middle East promotes the 'HoloSpot' at the ICCO Workshop On SPS Capacity Building in Africa (July 2011)
• Changes to EU pesticide approvals (EC 1107/2009) and re-registration requirements (July 2011)
• CropLife Africa & Middle East event: focusing on counterfeit and illegal crop protection products (CPP’s) in collaboration with Interpol, ICCO, EDES and UNIDO (Lagos, June 2011)
• India slow to stop endosulfan production (April 2011)
• UNCTAD UN Cocoa Conference: setting the agenda (June 2010)

Important cocoa pesticides under discussion

Which cocoa pesticides are effective and permitted for use?
(latest draft of Manual: Appendix 3)

Compounds under review

1. Insecticides

    bifenthrin

    deltamethrin

    pirimiphos methyl

2. Fungicides (and substances active against Oomycetes)

    metalaxyl - final review