Products to Control Algae and Blanket weed – Responsibility has Transferred from PSD to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Note that since the information on this page was issued, in 2002, PSD has become part of the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) (1st April 2009). Part of the Chemicals Regulation Directorate based in Bootle is responsible for biocidal products (i.e. non-agricultural pesticides). These include products mentioned below used to control algae and blanket weed. Queries about the approval of algae and blanket weed should be directed to CRD staff in Bootle: Link to contact details for CRD Bootle
Many manufacturers, sellers and users of products to control algae and blanket weed are probably aware that responsibility for granting approvals for these pesticides transferred from the Pesticides Safety Directorate to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This is because PSD will, in future, only deal with products intended to protect plants, increasingly under the Plant Protection Products Regulations 1995. HSE will approve products for use as biocides, with the Biocidal Products Regulations 2001 becoming more and more the legislative basis for these approvals.
It is especially important that retailers and users are aware of when such products can no longer be marketed, stored or used. Therefore, a list of products currently available with their date of expiry is available below. If you require any further details about these products you should get in touch with Information Services branch of PSD on (01904) 455775 or email pesticides@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
Both retailers and users should be aware that such products are regulated under pesticide legislation. Under this legislation pesticides cannot be used in any circumstance unless an approval to do so has been granted by the Minister. In granting an approval, assessments are carried out to ensure safety to the user and to the environment. Where there is no approval for uses the necessary risk assessments will not have been undertaken. It is illegal to market or use products that have not been granted an approval.
Any growers or retailers will be the subject of enforcement action should such use or sale continue after the revocation date of a product or if a product has not been granted an approval.
List of Currently approved algaecide products (28/10/2002)
|
Approval Expiry Dates
|
|
|
Product name
|
Approval No
|
Sale & supply
|
Store
|
Use
|
Advert
|
Approval Holder(s)
|
|
Algae Control No 1 Anti-Algae
|
M09068
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Interpet Ltd
|
|
Algae Control No 3 Anti-Slime Algae
|
M09071
|
25/07/03
|
31/10/04
|
31/10/04
|
25/07/03
|
Interpet Ltd
|
|
Algae Destroyer For Freshwater Aquariums
|
M08856
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Ltd
|
|
Algae Destroyer For Ponds
|
M08858
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Ltd
|
|
Algae Destroyer Liquid
|
M08857
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Inc
|
|
Algizin A
|
M08850
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Waterlife Research Industries Ltd
|
|
Algizin P
|
M08851
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Waterlife Research Industries Ltd
|
|
AlgoFin
|
M08862
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
Tetra
|
|
Aqualife Algae and Snail Killer
|
M08839
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
Aqualife Pond Algicide
|
M08838
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
Aquarium Algicide
|
M08841
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
Betta Algae Clear
|
M08843
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
BioActive Algaway
|
M09076
|
25/07/03
|
31/10/04
|
31/10/04
|
25/07/03
|
Interpet Ltd
|
|
Biotal Bio-Clear
|
M09072
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Biotal Industrial Products
|
|
Blagdon Pondsafe Bio Clear
|
M09073
|
31/12/02
|
31/12/02
|
31/12/02
|
31/12/02
|
Biotal Industrial Products Ltd
|
|
Blagdon Pondsafe BioClear
|
M09857
|
25/07/03
|
31/10/04
|
31/10/04
|
25/07/03
|
Interpet Ltd
|
|
Blanc-Kit
|
M08391
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
Syngenta Crop Protection UK Ltd
|
|
BWG Aquarium Anti Algae
|
M08848
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
BWG Pool Clinic Algicide
|
M08846
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
Clarosan
|
M09394
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
Syngenta Crop Protection UL Ltd
|
|
Duckweed Control
|
M09070
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Interpet Ltd
|
|
Feature Algae Control
|
M09069
|
25/07/03
|
29/02/04
|
29/02/04
|
25/07/03
|
Interpet Ltd
|
|
Feature Algae Control
|
M10484
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
Interpet Ltd
|
|
Green Algae Control
|
M08855
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
King British Aquarium Accessories
|
|
Hydroperfect Algalit HP-352
|
M09519
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Etablissements EURO WATER LAND
|
|
Hydroperfect Algalit HP-355
|
M09520
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Etablissements EURO WATER LAND
|
|
Hydroperfect Algalit HP-357
|
M09521
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Etablissements EURO WATER LAND
|
|
Lotus Algicide
|
M08852
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Waterlife Research Industries Ltd
|
|
Lotus Fungicide
|
M08853
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Waterlife Research Industries Ltd
|
|
Mister Green Algalit MG-352
|
M09522
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Etablissements EURO WATER LAND
|
|
Mister Green Algalit MG-355
|
M09523
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Etablissements EURO WATER LAND
|
|
Mister Green Algalit MG-357
|
M09524
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Etablissements EURO WATER LAND
|
|
Pond Doctor Algicide
|
M08810
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
Pond Pride Green Algae Control
|
M09100
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
Sinclair Animal & Household Care Ltd
|
|
PPI Clarity Excel
|
M09095
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
PPI Clarity Plus
|
M08837
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
Sera Algopur
|
M09065
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Sera Werke Heimtierbedarf
|
|
Tap Algasan
|
M08845
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
Tetra Algimin
|
M08861
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
Tetra
|
|
Waterscene Coldwater - Algae Control
|
M08869
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Waterscene Enterprises Co. Ltd
|
|
Pond Pride Green Algae Control
|
M09100
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
31/12/08
|
Sinclair Animal & Household Care Ltd
|
|
PPI Clarity Excel
|
M09095
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
Pond Pride Green Algae Control
|
M09100
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Waterscene Enterprises Co. Ltd
|
|
Sera Algopur
|
M09065
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Sera Werke Heimtierbedarf
|
|
Tap Algasan
|
M08845
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Technical Aquatic Products
|
|
Tetra Algimin
|
M08861
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
28/02/03
|
Tetra
|
|
Waterscene Coldwater - Algae
|
M08869
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Waterscene Enterprises Co. Ltd
|
|
Control
|
M08869
|
25/07/03
|
31/08/04
|
31/08/04
|
25/07/03
|
Waterscene Enterprises Co. Ltd
|
This is not guaranteed to be a definitive list. It was compiled from the PSD's post-registration database (RAID). It is, to the best of our knowledge, complete as at 28/10/2002.
Always read the product label before use to check exact usage directions.
Aquatic Products outside the Scope of the Regulations
Of course, not every product is within the scope of the legislation. If you are marketing or are hoping to market such a product, however, it is worth finding out rather than risk breaching the legislation and enforcement action. You need to look at the active substance and mode of action of your product – should your product come to our attention it is this information that we will request from you in order to decide whether it falls to be regulated under pesticide legislation.
As a quick rule of thumb (but this does not replace the need to be sure that you are acting legally) products generally considered outside the scope of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (as amended) are:
- Those which act on the growth of the plant, for instance those that deprive the algae of nutrients by chelating them or by using some form of physical means;
- Flocculators – physically removing the algae to the bottom of the pond; and
- Straw and straw products have been considered – if it is unprocessed it is out of scope but if processed it is in.
Any distributors, retailers or users will be the subject of enforcement action should use or sale take place when a product has not been granted an approval.
Contact Information
It is especially important that distributors, retailers and users know whether such products need to be approved. If you require any further details you should get in touch with Information Services branch of PSD on (01904) 455775 or email pesticides@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
For information on the Biocidal Products Regulations 2001 you should contact the Chemicals Assessment Unit (CASU) of HSE.
If you have any queries regarding this article, please contact Joan Reeves by telephone 01904 455705, by fax on 01904 455733 or by E-mail to joan.reeves@hse.gsi.gov.uk
