Benchmark’s lice treatment cleared for use in Norway – Fish Farmer Magazine
Ectosan Vet, the new sea lice treatment from the aquaculture health group Benchmark, has reached a critical legal milestone, with a maximum residue limit (MRL) for the chemical adopted in Norwegian legislation yesterday.
The MRL for Ectosan Vet was ratified by the European Commission earlier this year. Although Norway is not a member of the EU, it is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Commission decision was adopted in legislation that covers Norway’s EEA Agreement.
This final legal step formally authorizes Ectosan, also known as BMK08, for commercial use in Norway. The treatment is part of Benchmark’s potentially revolutionary CleanTreat system, but has proven to be controversial because its key ingredient is imidacloprid, a potent insecticide that has been linked to declining bee populations.
Imidacloprid is banned for most agricultural uses in Europe – although it can be used in closed greenhouses and as a tick and flea treatment for pets – but Benchmark says the CleanTreat system eliminates all traces of chemical before process wastewater is pumped out. in the sea. Imidacloprid in small amounts is harmless to fish and mammals but deadly to small invertebrates, making it an effective means of controlling pests and parasites, but a potential threat to biodiversity.
In June, the European Parliament voted to reject the Commission’s decision on the MRL, after the Green Party argued that there can be no safe minimum limit for imidacloprid. If the Commission decides to comply with Parliament’s objections, this will make the deployment of Ectosan in the EEA, including Norway, virtually impossible.
For now, however, Benchmark CEO Trond Williksen has said: “With the granting of the marketing authorization on July 2, the MRL ratified by the European Commission and now in Norwegian law, we have completed the regulatory steps required to begin marketing Ectosan Vet. and CleanTreat in Norway.
“We are excited to bring this much needed solution to the salmon industry, promoting sustainability through improved animal welfare and performance while protecting the environment.” “