The Fungicide Resistance Action Group (FRAG-UK)

Note: FRAG information published before 2016 can be accessed via the National Archives

Usually, fungicides control susceptible fungal strains effectively. However, any resistant strains present – through mutation or natural variation – are more likely to survive and reproduce. This process of ‘selection’ makes each subsequent generation more difficult to control. In the absence of any fitness costs, resistant strains may come to dominate the population, causing disease control to fail. This video by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) explains why fungicide resistance happens and how to manage it.

From 2023, all UK plant protection products will include mode of action (MoA) information on their labels.

The decision – by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – follows a joint statement issued by the UK Resistance Action Groups (UK-RAGs) in December 2017. This said that greater prominence of MoA information would help farmers and agronomists make informed resistance management decisions.

Since then, members of the industry body ‘CropLife International’ have made a voluntarily commitment to include MoA icons and groups on all product labels by 2023. Following consultation with the Crop Protection Association (CPA), the HSE announced that it will become a legal requirement to include MoA information on all UK product labels from January 2023.