This will allow the listed certificate holders to apply these chemicals in their management practices against insect pests of the Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Diptera families. The derogations have a list of provisions which will need to be implemented during the 3 year derogation period. These include the following:
1. Develop their own integrated pest management system for forestry pest management. Failure to implement this condition will result in rejection of future renewal applications.
2. Develop monitoring and scouting programmes for the pest species with immediate effect to gauge the level of infestation, the seasonality and the distribution in plantation plots in order to implement preventative measures and to cut down on the size of area to be treated. This will also teach certificate holders more about the biology and breeding of the pest species and assist in making appropriate decisions to manage these pests.
3. Engage the various scientific institutions and grower’s association to learn from their studies and experience on monitoring and scouting, use of biological control agents and entomopathogenic nematodes. They must also engage companies in the business of insect pheromones to discuss development of this technology as a tool in forest pest management including mating disruption.
4. Strive to establish in-house research on the efficacy of biological control agents under different climatic conditionsto determine what the optimum conditions are. There are sufficient registered biological agents in South Africa for testing. In addition, certificate holders must strive to establish close collaboration with researchers to test natural insecticides and determine what percentage efficacy can be obtained in field conditions.
5. Consider alternative cultivation practices and test such to prevent a build-up of soil borne pests.
6. Demonstrate participation in research and trails of alternative pesticides and not rely solely on the research of institutions.
7. Engage stakeholders fully and keep them informed of the operations if synthetic insecticides (in this case the pyrethroids) are used.
The risks may be negligible but it is important to do perception management by being totally transparent and keeping stakeholders informed. It is of particular importance to engage neighbours on whose properties open water bodies may be located and offer to do monitoring of aquatic life after aerial application of pyrethroids. The pesticide NOT approved under this derogation is as follows:
Stedfast SC (contains alpha-cypermethrin, registration number L6464) is not registered for forestry application and may NOT be used at all in forestry.
The pesticides approved under this derogation are as follows:
- Fastac SC (contains alpha-cypermethrin,registration number L4992) is registered for forestry application (aerial application) and may be used.
- Polytrin Super (containsalpha-cypermethrin, registration number L7262) is registered for forestry application (aerial application) and may be used.
- Kemprin 200EC (contains cypermethrin, registration number L3145) is registered for forestry application (aerial application) and main be used.
- Villa Polythrin 200 EC (contains cypermethrin, registration number L5409) is registered for forestry application (aerial application) and may be used.
- Cypermethrin EC (contains cypermethrin,registration number L4069 and L4644) is registered for forestry application (aerial application) and may be used.
- Bitam SC is no longer registered and is no longer available in South Africa.
- Decis has been replaced with Decis Forte (contains deltamethrin, registration number L6535) is registered for cutworms in various crops as a soil applied insecticide as may be used.
- Celtis 25 EC (contains deltamethrin,registration number L7965) is registered for cutworms in various crops as a soil applied insecticide and may be used.
- Alpha-thrin 100 SC (contains alpha-cypermethrin) is registered for forestry application (aerial application)and may be used.
FSC Southern Africa will be engaging with TIPWG to advise where necessary.The FSC decision document listing the approved certificate holders and stipulations may be viewed below.