SLE reiterates call for immediate bracken control authorisation

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has urged the Scottish Government to grant immediate authorisation for Asulox to control bracken following news that it has been permitted for use south of the border.

SLE wrote to the Scottish Government last week, as it has in previous years, asking for permission to be granted as a matter of urgency before bracken grows out of control.

The decision by the HSE in England paves the way for use of Asulox - Asulam in Scotland, provided permission is granted from Biodiversity Minster Lorna Slater and Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon.

Stephen Young, Director of Policy at SLE, said:

“The right decision has been taken in England regarding the use of Asulox to control bracken and we are urging the Scottish Government to take the same step for farmers and land managers in Scotland.

“We wrote to government last week on this matter and we have requested an urgent meeting with Rural Secretary Mairi Gougeon to discuss in greater detail.

“We recognise there are some concerns about the use of Asulox - a substance we would hopefully be able to find an alternative to in the medium to long term. However, there needs to be a recognition that the environmental impacts of not permitting its use is far worse, particularly in terms of tick control and its impact on human health, livestock, pets and biodiversity. We encourage the government to act as quickly as possible to allow action on bracken to get underway.”