The UK Minor Uses Network (MUN) was set up to help advise PSD on issues affecting the minor use sector. It first met on 29 April 2003, and involved a wide range of representatives covering the cropping types across the UK. Membership was been extended to cover additional areas where pesticide use is important, both in crop and non crop areas. The main objective of the group is to provide a source of knowledge and expertise relating to crop protection and pesticide use on minor crops in the UK, which can be used to inform developing issues. The group actually covers a wider range of crops than one might consider as ‘minor’ but this also ensures that niche pest problems on major crops are adequately covered.
In April 2008 the Minor Uses Network merged with the Availability Action Plan Group and the Horticultural Industry Liaison Group to bring all related work within the national strategy. Further information on the meetings of this merged group can be found on the following page: Availability Action Plan Group
Fifth Meeting
The fifth meeting of the UK MUN met on 3 May 2007 to discuss a range of issues relating to the problems associated with pesticide use on minor crops.
Agenda of the meeting
Fourth Meeting
The fourth meeting of the UK MUN met on 6 April 2006 to discuss a range of issues relating to the problems associated with pesticide use on minor crops.
Minutes of the fourth meeting
Agenda for the meeting
Third Meeting
The third meeting of the UK MUN met on 15 March 2005 to discuss a range of issues relating to the problems associated with pesticide use on minor crops.
Minutes of the third meeting (pdf, 6 pages)
Second Meeting
The second meeting of the UK MUN met on 30 April 2004 to discuss a range of issues relating to the problems associated with pesticide use on minor crops.
Minutes of the second meeting (pdf, 7 pages)
At this meeting UK MUN members considered it would be useful to publicise the work of their group. An outline or skeleton text has now been drafted by PSD. This can be used by members in relevant articles and literature, with appropriate amendments to make it relevant to their cropping area.
Draft text to publicise MUN (pdf, 3 pages)
UK Work on the Minor Use Projects for the EU Technical Group
At the last meeting of the EU technical group on Minor Uses, the UK agreed to undertake some work with a view to seeking solutions for some selected and important minor use gaps. The objective was to identify one or two significant gaps. Work would then be undertaken towards identifying potential solutions for the control of those targets by liaison both within the UK and using the contacts from within the EU technical group. Solutions could be either chemical or non chemical. The objective then is to identify possible solutions for those important gaps, and where appropriate, encourage potential applicants to seek registration for chemical control options.
A lot of work has been put into two projects and the progress so far is written up into two interim reports. These have been circulated to members of the EU Technical Working Group with a view to seeking feedback and identifying any additional options for control that might have potential. This will assist in determining the future direction of the work.
Weed management in carrots and parsnips (pdf, 11 pages)
Blackcurrant gall mite (Cecidophyopsis ribis) on blackcurrants (pdf, 2 pages)
First Meeting
The first meeting of the Minor Uses Network was set up to help advise PSD on issues affecting the minor use sector. It first met on 29 April 2003. A wide range of representatives was invited to the first meeting and asked to consider a number of recent EU initiatives:
- EU minor uses group,
- The UK "Top 5",
- A proposed "Top 20" and
- The Flies Project (this project was designed to prioritise key crop/pest problems for which residues data are a priority).
After this meeting the UK submitted completed tables for the UK top 20 minor use gaps and a completed table for the Files Project. The UK identified 26 high priorities and submitted these together with the Medium and Low priorities to the EU working group to help inform the debate.
Initial invitation
Minutes of first meeting
Request for "Top 20"
UK top 20 minor use gaps (Excel) - Updated Aug 2004
UK "Top 5"(Excel)
Completed flies project table
Contact Information
If you have any comments or would like further information on this minor use initiative, or you have any comments to make relating to important pests on minor crops where no effective control solutions exist, please e-mail minoruse@hse.gsi.gov.uk
