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Re: sprays for aphids

Allan Day wrote:-

>Fact:-
>Home-brewed mixtures of soap or detergent for use in the garden are
>banned under EEC (Europe) rules
>The specified concentration  alleged from UC is way above washing-up
>dilution (e.g one short squirt in a bowl of water, and rinse off the
>phosphate residue before drying) -surely there is something wrong here.


The concentration of detergent required is quite low. The detergent of
itself does not kill insects, rather it acts as a wetting agent and water
is then able to enter the breathing holes in the insect's thorax. The
surface tension of untreated water normally prevents it entering these tiny
breathing holes.

You only need to add enough detergent to act as a wetting agent. That can
be as little as one or two drops per litre.
If I get aphid problems this is my first line of attack. It leaves no
residue of any significance. Aphids do return, but they can be controlled
by simple mechanical means. i.e. rubbing them off with your fingers. 
There are approved "soapy" insecticides available on the market. Savona and
Safers to name but two.

As for its USE being "banned" in the UK; as far as I understand The Food
and Environmental Protection Act, 1985 (FEPA) it is illegal to SELL a
homemade product. Only approved pesticides may be sold. Using adjuvants
such as detergents with insecticides may be allowed but it depends upon the
chemical in question.

Under The Control of Pesticides Regulations, 1986 (COPR)

Suppliers and sales outlets must:-
Only sell approved pesticides. Only approved pesticides may be recommended
for the control of pests. Beer, methylated spirits, salt, soapy water,
boiled up cigarette butts and other home made concoctions are not approved
pesticides.
You cannot sell them for those purposes. That is not the same as saying you
may not use them.
It is illegal to sell beer as a slug bait. But it is not illegal to use
beer for that purpose.

Whether it is illegal to use a mild detergent solution to wash off aphids
is open to question in my opinion. 

Also it is not EEC law. FEPA is UK law.
You can't blame the EEC for everything you don't like.

Using dilute detergent to kill aphids may or may not be "legal" but it is
effective.

Regards
Stephen

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Stephen Griffiths, 
34 Fernwood Crescent, London, N20 0RN. UK.
e-mail:- stephen.griffiths@dial.pipex.com
URL:- http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/close/xpz05
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