News Crop Protection
BASF phases out products containing metiram

BASF will discontinue products containing metiram in response to a recent decision by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).

On June 21, the PMRA released its re-evaluation decision on metiram, a fungicide used on a number of food crops. The PMRA found metiram acceptable for foliar application to potatoes when used according to label directions, but cancelled all other uses of metiram. As a result, BASF will be discontinuing all its metiram-containing products according to the PMRA-mandated phase-out schedule.

The metiram active ingredient is a part of two products: Polyram DF (a stand-alone metiram formulation) and Cabrio Plus (a co-formulation of metiram and pyraclostrobin). Within the next 24 months, the following changes will take effect:

• BASF may only sell Cabrio Plus or Polyram DF prior to December 31, 2019.
• Distributors and retailers can continue to sell Cabrio Plus and/or Polyram DF until June 21, 2020.
• Growers can continue to apply Cabrio Plus and/or Polyram DF until June 21, 2021.

Compliance with the phase-out dates are mandatory and growers are encouraged to consider these dates when planning ahead for the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons.