The European Commission has recently published a list of 26 active substances used in viticulture that should eventually be replaced, because of their danger to people or the environment. On the list are copper sulphate, copper hydroxide, copper oxide chloride and copper oxide. All of these are used for spraying against fungal diseases, especially downy mildew. Copper sulphate is however by far the most common.
The EU has for several years threatened to ban copper spraying in the vineyard. They have not succeeded and they will probably not succeed now either. The idea is now that the member states should look for less toxic alternatives to the substances on the list.
If there are no alternatives, the EU will probably allow the continued use of the toxic substance. Permitted quantities may however be reduced. [inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=””]Currently there is no good alternative to copper for organic wine producers[/inlinetweet].
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