CIPC urges British potato growers to submit residue data to retain storage use limits

UNITED KINGDOM – Potato producers and storage facility managers across Great Britain are being called upon to submit chlorpropham residue results by August 31, as the industry gathers evidence needed to retain the use of storage buildings previously treated with the former sprout suppressant.

Great Britain Potatoes and the CIPC Residues Monitoring Group said the latest surveillance data showed that residues continued to decline after the withdrawal of CIPC in 2020.

For instance, around one in seven stores tested still showed detectable residues, compared with approximately one in four in the first year of monitoring.

The reported detections remained within Great Britain’s current temporary Maximum Residue Level of 0.35 mg/kg. However, the findings indicate that historic CIPC contamination can persist in potato stores for several years after the chemical was last applied.

“The trend is encouraging, and the industry deserves credit for the progress made. But we cannot be complacent. With around one in seven stores still showing a positive result, there is clearly more work to do, and thorough cleaning between storage seasons remains the single most important action growers can take,” said Adrian Cunnington, chair of the CIPC Residues Monitoring Group.

The long-term impacts of CIPC persistence in storage include potential contamination of subsequent potato crops, regulatory non-compliance risks, and limitations on the use of existing storage infrastructure.

Furthermore, the monitoring group is seeking greater participation from businesses supplying Britain’s fresh potato market. According to the group, the processing sector has strongly supported the programme, while stores serving the fresh sector remain underrepresented in the available data.

Results submitted by August 31 will be compiled for submission to the Health and Safety Executive’s Chemical Regulation Division by mid-September. The evidence is intended to demonstrate continued compliance and to support the retention of a temporary residue limit for potatoes stored in facilities with a history of CIPC use.

Growers and store managers are also advised to clean storage buildings thoroughly between seasons, with particular attention to areas where residues can accumulate in the store fabric and associated equipment.

Finally, the evidence gathered aims to persuade regulators to maintain temporary residue limits, allowing older buildings to remain in use while the industry continues to reduce contamination levels through improved cleaning practices.

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