Minor crops

The minor crops have a number of specific characteristics:

• they are highly diverse (from herbs to horticulture)
• they have a high added value
• they are cultivated in a limited area
• there are relatively few plant protection products authorised in these crops

Examples of minor crops include ornamental plants, chives and raspberries.

The crops considered 'minor crops' in Belgium are indicated in the list of crops ('minor use'). All applications in these crops are considered minor uses.

All applications in another crop are not considered minor uses except in specific cases at the request of the agricultural sector and after acceptance of the argumentation by the Authorisation Board.

You can find the list of crops here (under 'Consult lists').

Minor applications

In addition to minor crops there are also 'minor uses' which relate to an application of a plant protection product in a major crop to control a pest or disease which only occurs sporadically. Whether an application is considered as a minor use is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Authorisation Board.

Minor uses already accepted by the Authorisation Board:

• control of fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) in apple and pear
• control of apple gall mite (Eriophyes malinus) in apple
• control of pear bud mite (Eriophyes pyri) in pear