US EPA allows food use for harpin-treated seeds

RNS Number : 9640F

Plant Health Care PLC

05 May 2011

 



5 May 2011                                                                                        

Plant Health Care plc ("Plant Health Care" or "the Company")

US Environmental Protection Agency allows food use for harpin-treated seeds

Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC), a leading provider of naturally-derived products to the agriculture industry, announces that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed to remove the requirement for use of a coloring agent or dye when seeds are commercially treated with harpin as the only seed treatment. This means that seeds treated with harpin alone may be returned to the food chain if not planted.

Until the removal of this restriction, seed commercially treated with harpin, like seed treated with most pesticides, could not be used for food, feed or oil, which created an impediment to more extensive use of harpin on seeds. This important development means that a seed company may now treat its entire seed stock with harpin knowing that if that stock is unsold for planting, the seed will not have to be destroyed or diverted for non-food use. This is particularly important for soybeans where many tons of seed remain untreated, with any material, until just before sale to the grower since soybean seed cannot be held for planting in the following year and, if treated but unsold, had to be destroyed.

John Brady, CEO of Plant Health Care commented: "Harpin is believed to be unique amongst seed treatment products, including inoculants, in that food use is not restricted. This is yet another validation of the safety of the harpin products to humans, animals and the environment in general".

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For further information, please contact:

Plant Health Care plc
John Brady, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]

Evolution Securities	Tavistock Communications
Tim Worlledge / Tim Redfern	Jeremy Carey/Simon Compton
Tel: [phone]	Tel: [phone]
[e-mail] [e-mail]	[e-mail] [e-mail]

Notes to Editors:

About Plant Health Care plc: Plant Health Care plc ("PHC") is a leading provider of naturally-derived products for plants and soil. Established in 1995 in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) in the United States, PHC currently has approximately 70 employees and has operations in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. The Company's ordinary shares have been quoted on the Alternative Investment Market ("AIM") of the London Stock Exchange since July 2004 and listed on the Official List of the Channel Islands Stock Exchange in February 2010 (ticker symbol/ mnemonic: PHC).

PHC's products are aimed at the agriculture industries and are environmentally beneficial. Through the commercialisation of these products, PHC is capitalising on long-term trends toward natural systems and biological products for plant care and soil and water management. Further information is available at: www.planthealthcare.com.

 

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