NON-CROP
NON-CROP IN THE NEWS
COMPANIES n Sales of nine BASF pesticides launched
Progress with the Biocidal Products between 2002 and 2007 reached 65%
Directive? n Chemtura’s crop protection sales rose of their combined peak annual sales
by 9.9% to US$89 million in the first potential of €1,100 million (US$1,706
For many readers of Agrow Magazine, the Biocidal quarter of 2008. The company benefited million at current rate) in 2007. They
Products Directive (BPD) is something that has been from strong agricultural demand, with include the fungicide, pyraclostrobin, and
part of their daily vocabulary for many years; for others it is a mystery that is often the increased sales coming primarily the insecticide, chlorfenapyr, which were
quoted as the reason for avoiding developing products for the European market. from European markets. Chemtura registered in a major market in 2002
In fact, it is the European Directive 98/08 for the regulation of biocidal products gained new business and improved and therefore classified as “launched”.
and covers a spectrum of product use that span currently well regulated markets its position with existing customers, The other seven active ingredients
like pest control through to the preservative chemicals used for embalming and says the company’s chairman and are described as “in launch”, with first
by taxidermists. Directive 98/08 signifies that it was approved by the European CEO, Robert Wood. Operating income major approvals being granted in the
Parliament in 1998 and, as a consequence of European procedures, had to pass into was up by 50% to US$21 million. The past five years. They are: the fungicides,
national law in each member state within two years. So the BPD became law across growth was due to higher volume sales, boscalid, dimoxystrobin, metrafenone and
the European Union in 2000 and upon accession for the countries joining the union favourable manufacturing and reduced orysastrobin; the herbicides, tritosulfuron
after that date. selling, general, administrative and and topramezone; and the insecticide,
research costs, Chemtura points out. A metaflumizone.
For many of the active chemical suppliers, the current regulatory demands of the 7% earnings increase from volume and
markets in which they operate mean that it has been a business decision whether portfolio effects, and a 7% rise due to n US agrochemical company American
or not to invest in the upgrading required in their regulatory and environmental currency effects were partially offset by Vanguard (Amvac — Los Angeles,
data packs to move from individual country submissions to a European dossier. The a 7% reduction in prices. California) has acquired the phorate
option was to withdraw the chemical active. For manufacturers of products such as insecticide business of Aceto (Lake
creosote, the step change to develop the necessary toxicological and environmental n Dow AgroSciences has entered into Success, New York). The acquisition
dossier is something beyond their comprehension and experience. What chance do an agreement with the US trait and was made in connection with the
they have to develop the product defence strategy and support data when compared technology provider, M S Technologies settlement of litigation over the use
to the well organised and broadly collaborative crop protection industry which has (West Point, Iowa), and the soybean of the insecticide with the EZ Load
developed product dossiers and use patterns over many years. breeder, Mertec (West Point, Iowa), closed delivery system. Details of the
to develop and commercialise a new transaction were not disclosed.
At the start of the process it was estimated that there were close to 1,000 range of genetically modified herbicide-
compounds identified as biocides across the total range of uses. Of these, less than tolerant soybeans. The products will be n DuPont has agreed not to pursue
40% were actually notified by their dossier owners and it is estimated by the end of aimed initially at US growers, with an patent infringement litigation against
the process this number will be halved again. So where are we after all this time? option to expand globally. Under the the Chinese agrochemical company,
At the time of writing, four wood treatment chemicals and two rodenticides, one of long-term, non-exclusive agreement, Rotam (Hong Kong), over the
which is carbon dioxide, have been published on Annex I completing the first part Dow and M S Technologies will combine monohydrate form of the sulfonylurea
of the process. Formulation dossiers still have to be assessed and approved. The proprietary technologies with Mertec’s herbicide, nicosulfuron. The “patent
process is clearly well behind schedule and needs review. soybean germplasm. “When these non-assertion agreement” covers the
new technologies have completed manufacture, marketing and sale of the
So what is the European Commission response? To establish a review of the impact their development and are registered, herbicide in the US. Rotam has agreed
of the Biocidal Products Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides! The scope we want to ensure that we have to pay an undisclosed fee to DuPont in
to investigate the lack of available data on production and use, the differences in outstanding genetics to combine with return for the non-assertion deal.
member state policies, the absolute need and the amateur use of biocidal products. the traits,” says Dow AgroSciences CEO
The good news is that the professional organisations within the industry such as Jerome Peribere. Dow holds an equity n Makhteshim-Agan Industries’ (MAI)
CEFIC and CEPA were able to respond to the challenge and present a positive and stake in Mertec. sales rose by a third in the first quarter
detailed European response. If nothing else, it was an opportunity to remind the
European Commission that maybe the priority is to deliver their part of the promise
MAI’s first-quarter sales by region (US$ million)
to review and approve the active chemicals that are demanded by the businesses
Region 2007 % change 2008
and citizens of the European Community. Europe  267.4  +27.2  340.0
South America  100.0  +47.4  147.4
Contact: rob@xenexassociates.com
North America  102.3  + 8.2  110.7
www.xenexassociates.com
Israel  25.4   0  25.4
Xenex Associates is a UK-based, international company providing strategic and
commercial services to a broad range of companies and organisations in non-crop
Rest of world  58.0  +70.1  98.7
markets. Xenex Associates is a partner in PestBusiness.com.
Total
1
553.1 +30.6 722.2
1
 may not add up due to rounding.
4 July 2008 • www.agrow.com
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