Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what guidance she plans to issue to landowners on effective replacement selective herbicides in advance of the prohibition of asulam; [91806]

(2) what steps she can take to extend the use of asulam beyond 2012. [91846]

Richard Benyon; Minister of State: The EU prohibition on the use of asulam comes into operation at the end of 2012. Beyond this date it may be possible for the UK Government to issue emergency authorisations for the use of asulam if there are no alternative means of control available. The Chemicals Regulation Directorate has provided guidance to the Bracken Control Group, which is co-ordinating for interested parties on an application for an emergency authorisation for asulam for its key use for bracken control.

I understand that a current approval holder for asulam intends to make a further submission to the European Commission seeking approval of the substance. Since this submission has to be supported by additional scientific studies, a new submission is unlikely to be made soon.

There are currently no selective herbicides approved for use in the UK that could replace asulam for bracken control. I understand that some research has been conducted on several sulphonyl urea herbicides, but no applications for approval have yet been made. In some situations, non-selective herbicides or mechanical control may be appropriate ways to tackle bracken.