At a Glance
- As of now, the EU is not banning imports of peanuts from the United States and other countries that use chlorothalonil.
The Boy Scout motto “Be prepared” certainly applies to preparing for the future availability of crop protection products due to the uncertainty from regulatory pressures and resistance issues.
A case in point is possible loss of tools as the U.S. peanut industry tries to capture international markets. The European Union’s banning the use of the fungicide chlorothalonil due to environmental concerns surrounding the compound.
The EU’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF Committee) called for the ban of chlorothalonil. The ban in the EU began in 2020.
In field days and grower meetings, North Carolina State University Extension Peanut Specialist David Jordan has stressed that the EU chlorothalonil ban is something peanut growers need to keep on their radar screens. As of now, the EU is not banning imports of peanuts from the United States and other countries that use chlorothalonil, but U.S. peanut farmers need to be prepared and aware.
Jordan has emphasized that he is not anticipating a ban by the EU of U.S. peanuts where chlorothalonil was applied, but he cautions it could happen and farmers need to be prepared and consider other disease management options beyond using chlorothalonil.
Jordan says the challenge for the U.S. peanut industry is that shellers are not able to segregate peanuts that have been treated with chlorothalonil with those where the compound has not been applied. He has emphasized that “Bravo” — or chlorothalonil — is a safe compound that serves a vital role in peanut production.
Finding alternate options
Jordan said the EU is considered a key export market for U.S. peanuts so N.C. State is researching fungicide control options such as rotations, cover crops, and sulfur in case chlorothalonil can no longer be used by U.S. peanut farmers.