Withdrawn chemicals
Some chemicals previously approved and sold to home gardeners to control plant diseases, plant-eating animals and weeds, and to regulate plant growth, have now been withdrawn. Our quick reference guide details those that are no longer available to buy and should not be used.
Quick facts
- Weedkillers have a big environmental impact and the RHS encourages gardeners to use alternative, non-chemical control methods
- Pesticides, also known as plant protection products, include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and molluscicides
- Manufacturers of regulated pesticides are obliged by law to print the name of the active ingredient on the label
- Details of approved active ingredients and products can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website
- Pesticides and their containers should be disposed of responsibly and legally; see our guide to storing and disposing of chemicals safely
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Banning of sale and use of pesticides
UK legislation requires approval for active ingredients used in pesticides, including those for use by home gardeners. Products approved in the UK are assigned a MAPP (Ministerially Approved Pesticide Product) number. A list of approved active ingredients for home gardeners and information on products for sale containing a particular active ingredient can be found in the Garden Pesticide Search section of the HSE website.
Active ingredients withdrawn since 2002 are listed below. They are listed alphabetically, within categories according to their use. Product names containing the active ingredient are included, but bear in mind that some product names are retained, or only slightly altered, after their active ingredient has been changed. It is advisable to read the label carefully to find the active ingredient when buying a pesticide. You should also check the label on any products you have stored to find the active ingredient and make sure they are still approved for use.
Withdrawn insecticides, molluscicides and animal repellents
Active ingredient Bifenthrin
Brand names Bayer Sprayday Greenfly Killer Plus, Bayer Multirose 3-in-1, Bayer Bug-Free, Bayer Bug and Disease Killer, Doff All in One Garden Pest Killer, Scotts Rose Clear 3, Scotts Rose Clear 3 Gun, Scotts Bug Clear Gun
Main use Various insects and red spider mite
Last date of use 31.5.11
Active ingredient Bone oil
Brand name Renardine
Main use Animal repellent, particularly foxes
Last date of use 24.3.05
Active ingredient Chlorpyriphos
Brand name Bio Chlorophos
Main use Vegetable root flies
Last date of use 15.6.02
Active ingredient Dimethoate
Brand name Doff Systemic Insecticide
Main use Sap-feeding insects
Last date of use 31.8.02
Active ingredient Imidacloprid
Brand names Bayer Provado Lawn Grub Killer, Bayer Provado Ultimate Bug Killer
Main use Various pests
Last date of use 30.11.13
Active ingredient Lindane
Brand names Doff Gamma BHC Dust, Doff Weevil Killer, Doff Ant Killer
Main use Various soil pests and ants
Last date of use 20.6.02
Active ingredient Malathion
Brand name Murphy Liquid Malathion
Main use Various insects and mites
Last date of use 30.11.02
Active ingredient Metaldehyde
Brand names Ultimate Slug and Snail Killer, Deadfast Slug Killer, Doff Slug Killer Blue Mini Pellets, Westland Eraza Slug and Snail Killer
Main use Slugs and snails
Last date of use 31.3.22
Active ingredient Permethrin
Brand name Homebase All in One Insecticide
Main use Various insects
Last date of use 27.6.02
Active ingredient Pirimicarb
Brand names Rose Clear 2
Main use Aphids
Last date of use 31.12.03
Active ingredient Pirimiphos-methyl
Brand name Fumite General Purpose Smoke Cone
Main use Glasshouse pests
Last date of use 31.7.03
Active ingredient Resmethrin
Brand name Vitax House Plant pest killer
Main use Houseplant insects
Last date of use 31.12.03
Active ingredient Rotenone
Brand names Bio Liquid Derris Plus, Doff Derris Dust, Vitax Derris Dust
Main use Various leaf pests
Last date of use 10.10.09
Active ingredient Tar oils and tar acids
Brand names Murphy Mortegg
Main use Aphid eggs on fruit trees
Last date of use 31.12.04
Active ingredient Tar oils and tar acids
Brand name Armillatox (Armillatox remains on the market as a disinfectant, but is no longer permitted to be used for pesticidal purposes)
Main use Vine weevil eggs
Last date for use 31.12.03
Active ingredient Thiacloprid
Brand names Bayer Provado Ultimate Bug Killer, Baby Bio House Plant Insecticide, Bayer Multirose Bug Killer, Bayer Provado Vine Weevil Killer 2
Main use Various pests
Withdrawn 3.2.20
Active ingredient Thiamethoxam
Brand names Westland Plant Rescue Bug Killer Ornamental Plants, Westland Bug Attack Quick Sticks
Main use Various pests
Last date of use 30.11.13
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde can no longer be sold or used
Withdrawn fungicides
Active ingredient Carbendazim
Brand names Doff Plant Disease Control, Spotless
Main use Various diseases
Last date of use 30.6.03
Active ingredient Copper oxychloride
Brand name Bayer Garden Fruit and Vegetable Disease Control
Main use Control of celery leaf spot, peach leaf curl, potato blight, tomato blight, apple and pear canker, bacterial canker of plums and cherries, rust on currants and gooseberries, cane spot on raspberries and loganberries, damping off and foot rot of seedlings
Last date of use 30.11.15
Active ingredient Copper sulphate
Brand name Cheshunt compound
Main use Damping off in seedlings
Last date of use 30.11.11
Active ingredient Copper sulphate plus hydrated lime (Bordeaux mixture)
Brand name Vitax Bordeaux mixture
Main use Controls blight on potato and tomato, celery leaf spot, apple canker, bacterial canker on cherry and plum, peach leaf curl, black currant and gooseberry rust
Last date of use 30.11.15
Active ingredient Difenoconazole
Brand name Westland Plant Rescue Fungus Control (This active ingredient has not been withdrawn but the products containing it are no longer being marketed to home gardeners)
Main use Control of powdery mildews, rust, powdery mildews, rose blackspot and rust and scabs on fruit and vegetables
Last date of use 30.6.15
Active ingredient Mancozeb
Brand name Dithane (Amateur products containing it are no longer being marketed and all products are due to be withdrawn from sale 30.11.24)
Main use Various diseases
Withdrawn: 30.11.24
Active ingredient Myclobutanil
Brand names Rosegarde, Rose Shield Bug & Fungus Killer, Resolva Rose 3 in 1,
Multirose 2 Bug Killer and Disease Control
Main use Control of rust, black spot and powdery mildew on roses; rust and powdery mildew on ornamentals
Withdrawn 31.5.21
Active ingredient Penconazole
Brand name Fungus Attack (This active ingredient has not been withdrawn but the products containing it are no longer being marketed)
Main use Various diseases on roses and ornamentals
Last date of use Not applicable
Active ingredient Sulphur
Many fungicides containing sulphur were withdrawn, with a last date of use set for 31.12.11. However, sulphur is now an approved active ingredient in some fungicides. Only sulphur products with a MAPP number should be used to control fungal diseases.
Active ingredient Tar oils and tar acids
Brand names Armillatox and Jeyes Fluid (Armillatox and Jeyes Fluid remain on the market as disinfectants, but they are no longer permitted to be used for pesticidal purposes)
Main use Honey fungus and clubroot (Armillatox), soil sterilisation (Jeyes Fluid)
Last date for use 31.12.03
Active ingredient Thiophanate methyl
Brand name Bio Liquid Club Root Control
Main use Clubroot
Last date for use 31.12.05
Active ingredient Triforine and bupirimate
Brand name Rose Clear 2
Main use Rose diseases
Last date for use 31.12.03
Bordeaux mixture, shown here, has been withdrawn
Withdrawn weedkillers, mosskillers and plant growth regulators
Weedkillers/herbicides:
Active ingredient Ammonium sulphamate
Brand names Deep Root, Root Out, Amcide, Doff Tree Stump & Tough Weedkiller and others
Main use Woody weeds and stumps
Last date for use 22.5.08
Active ingredient Atrazine
Brand names Scotts Pathclear, Doff Total Path Weedkiller
Main use Weeds
Last date for use 10.9.05
Active ingredient Dichlobenil
Brand name Casoron G4 Weed Barrier
Main use Weed control on unplanted ground and around established trees and shrubs
Last date for use 18.3.10
Active ingredient Dichloroprop
Brand names Many brands
Main use Lawn weeds
Last date for use 31.12.03
Active ingredient: Diuron
Brand name Doff Long-lasting Path Weedkiller
Main use Weeds on hard surfaces
Last date for use 13.12.08
Active ingredient: Diquat
Brand names This active ingredient was removed from products and the brand names continue to be used
Main use Weeds
Last date for use 31.7.19
Active ingredient Glufosinate ammonium
Brand names FITO Garden Weedkiller and FITO Patio Weedkiller (Products containing this active ingredient are no longer being marketed)
Main use Weeds
Last date for use Not applicable
Active ingredient Paraquat
Brand name Scotts Weedol
Main use Weeds
Last date for use 30.4.06
Active ingredient Simazine
Brand names Scotts Pathclear, Doff Total Path Weedkiller
Main use Weeds
Last date for use 10.9.05
Active ingredient Sodium chlorate
Brand names Doff Sodium Chlorate Weedkiller, Gem Stop Weeds Ready-to-Use, Gem Stop Weeds Sodium Chlorate, DeadFast Sodium Chlorate Weedkiller, Vitax Sodium Chlorate Weedkiller
Main use Weeds
Last date for use 10.5.10
Active ingredient Tar oils and tar acids
Brand name Armillotox (Armillatox remains on the market as a disinfectant, but is no longer permitted to be used for pesticidal purposes)
Main use Mosses, lichens or liverworts
Last date for use 31.12.03
Active ingredient TBA (2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid)
Brand name Touchweeder
Main use Lawn weeds
Last date for use 31.12.03
Withdrawn chemicals might be found in old sheds and garages
Moss Killers:
Active ingredient Dichlorophen
Brand names Bio Kills Moss on Lawns
Main use Lawn mosskiller
Last date for use 30.9.06
Plant Growth Regulators:
Active ingredient Dichlorophen
Brand names Baby Bio Roota
Main use Hormone rooting compound
Last date for use 30.4.06
Active ingredient NAA (1-naphthylacetic acid)
Brand names Doff Hormone Rooting Powder
Main use Hormone rooting compound
Last date for use 30.06.17
Active ingredient Dikegulac
Brand names Cutlass
Main use Hedge growth retardant
Last date for use 31.12.03
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