Skip to main content

Joint Statement from:
Barley Australia
Grains Industry Market Access Forum
National Working Party on Grain Protection
Grain Producers Australia
Grain Growers Limited
InterGrain
Seednet

Reminder on Market Requirement for IMI tolerant barley

14 October 2019

Key Points:

  • This communication contains updates on potential completion dates for
    an Imazapyr MRL on barley review by South Korea and Japan.
  • Industry is reminded that the current barley MRLs for IMI chemicals for
    South Korea and Japan markets will apply for the upcoming 2019/20 harvest.
    For both these markets the MRLs for imazapyr, imazapic and imazamox are
    currently 0.01 ppm.
  • Australia’s bulk handlers will apply a range of strategies for management of
    IMI tolerant barley varieties (Scope CL and Spartacus CL) for the 2019 harvest.
    Some of these strategies are summarised in this communication.

The aim of this 3rd communication is to further update growers and industry
on market relevant issues concerning IMI tolerant barley varieties in relation to
imidazolinone (IMI) chemical use (see note below #). Further information has recently
become available on the developments taking place in South Korea and Japan:

  • The South Korean regulator has announced that they expect to complete their review
    of the Imazapyr Import Tolerance application for barley on 16 November 2020.
  • The Japanese regulator is not expected to complete their MRL review until late 2021.

Industry is therefore reminded that the current barley MRLs for IMI chemicals
for those two markets will apply for the upcoming 2019/20 harvest (for both
these markets the MRLs for imazapyr, imazapic and imazamox are currently
0.01 ppm). Furthermore, until the outcome of the reviews are known, industry
should carefully manage any market access issues related to the use of IMI
chemistry and the trading of Clearfield barley varieties to those markets,
to ensure compliance with MRL requirements.

Australia’s bulk handlers will apply a range of strategies for the management
of Clearfield barley varieties (Scope CL and Spartacus CL) for the 2019
harvest. Some bulk handler strategies are outlined as follows:

  • CBH will not be segregating Clearfield barley varieties treated with IMI
    chemistry, but vendor declarations will be required for harvest deliveries.
    Extensive testing for IMI residues will be implemented. See website for
    contact details and further information: www.cbh.com.au
  • Viterra will not be segregating Clearfield barley varieties treated with IMI
    chemistry, but vendor declarations will be required for harvest deliveries.
    Extensive testing for IMI residues will be implemented. See website for
    contact details and further information: viterra.com.au/index.php/
  • GrainCorp will not be segregating Clearfield barley varieties treated with
    IMI chemistry and growers will not be required to declare the status of IMI
    treatment on Clearfield varieties upon harvest delivery. See website for
    contact details and further information: www.graincorp.com.au
  • Emerald Grain will not be segregating Clearfield barley varieties treated
    with IMI chemistry for the 2019 crop harvest. See website for contact details
    and further information: emeraldgrain.com
  • GrainFlow will not be segregating Clearfield barley varieties treated with
    IMI chemistry at harvest time but vendor declarations will be required for
    all barley deliveries. See website for contact details and further information:
    www.grainflow.com.au

Growers are advised to contact their intended point of delivery prior to
harvest for further information on the particular requirements that will apply
for deliveries of Clearfield varieties.

# Barley Australia has previously distributed two updates (March and May 2019) on
this topic in collaboration with other organisations as listed above (see BA website
www.barleyaustralia.com.au/media/ba-industry-updates).