Wine producers advocate for the use of baking soda in their industry
In the world of German and Austrian winemaking, a new plant protection product named "Natrisan" has caused quite a stir. This product, primarily composed of baking powder (sodium hydrogen carbonate), has been the subject of controversy due to its significant cost increase compared to common baking powder.
The product is manufactured by Biofa GmbH, a company based in Münsingen, and has been licensed as a plant protection product in Germany and Austria. However, the EU Commission's decision to classify "Natrisan" as a plant protection product has added additional costs for users, a point of contention for Biofa GmbH, who claim that the EU Commission's use of their data without compensation has resulted in an "unfair economic disadvantage."
Sodium hydrogen carbonate has long been valued in organic viticulture for its effectiveness against powdery mildew, a fungal disease. Due to EU rules, a substance cannot be both a basic substance and a plant protection product, so the basic substance license for baking powder was withdrawn.
The increased cost of "Natrisan" has raised concerns among German winemakers, who now have to purchase the more expensive product for plant protection. The Baden-Württemberg Minister of Agriculture, Peter Hauk (CDU), has criticized the EU's decision and demanded a correction. He is in contact with the federal government to find ways to resolve the "very unfavorable situation for viticulture."
Hauk has also appealed to Brussels to re-allow the use of sodium hydrogen carbonate. The German Winegrowers' Association shares this sentiment, expressing hope for a solution to the issue.
The former environmental minister of Baden-Württemberg, Franz Untersteller, has criticized the EU requirement as providing arguments for Euro-skeptics against a united Europe. He has suggested retroactively paying for the use of corporate data to preserve the basis for the baking powder application. However, the EU Commission has not responded to this suggestion.
The Federal Office for Consumer Protection and the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture have announced they will examine the case and approach the EU Commission, aiming to find a resolution that benefits both the winemakers and the EU's regulatory requirements.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Biofa GmbH maintains that it does not want to harm winemakers but protect its own know-how, which was collected in comprehensive and expensive studies. The company from Münsingen in Baden-Württemberg that obtained a license for a pesticide mainly consisting of baking powder is not explicitly named in the search results, nor is the exact date the license was granted provided.
This complex situation underscores the challenges of balancing economic considerations, regulatory requirements, and innovation in the European Union. As the issue unfolds, winemakers and policymakers alike will continue to watch closely for developments.
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