Grower, Small Business and Biopesticide Champions

Grower Champion

Role of the Grower Champion

Over recent years growers have diversified from traditional crops to find new markets, creating the need to find plant protection product solutions for new crops.

To further help and assist growers and their organisations, HSE has a specific contact point: a Grower Champion.

The Grower Champion is available to growers or any individual within the agricultural/horticultural/forestry/amenity industries wishing to find out more information about pesticide regulation and, in particular, minor uses.

The Grower Champion can help from explaining regulatory issues to helping with submission and evaluation of minor use authorisations.

Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use

Authorisation holders and growers or grower organisations can apply for an extension of use.

This is defined as an extension of authorisation for minor uses of existing authorised products. The extension can be given where the use is minor, is in the public interest and all safety aspects of the risk assessment can be satisfied. These extensions of authorisation for minor use are known informally as EAMUs and off-labels and have previously been known as SOLAs (specific off-label approvals).

Major UK crops are generally not eligible for Article 51 authorisations (refer to The Crop Definitions List for further details).

Contact Information

If you wish to discuss minor use issues, want advice on how to submit an application or would like a representative to meet you and your organisation to discuss minor use and off-label issues, please contact via e-mail at: [email protected]

Small Business Champion

The Small Business Champion role has been established for several years, offering a specialised service to small businesses that often have specific needs when making applications to HSE in the complex and ever-changing area of pesticide regulation. The role is customer driven, and offers a range of services to small businesses, from individual one-to-one advice and introductory presentations to specific advice regarding regulatory submissions; dependent upon requirements.

Contact Information

If you are a small business and have any queries relating to the regulatory process, please contact by e-mail at [email protected]

Biopesticide Champion

The Biopesticide Champion provides initial contact for product innovators/manufacturers, and helps them through the approval process. Further information is available on the Biopesticides user area home page.

Contact Information

Please contact the Biopesticides champion at: [email protected]

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Updated 2023-06-12