Formalin being withdrawn?

shumungus · Nov 26, 2018

Sorry if this has been covered in another thread, am being told formalin being withdrawn by some distributors from the start of 2019. Has anyone else heard anything? I know it is being banned for embalming people but hadn't realized they were moving as quick in the agri world.

Al R · Nov 26, 2018

I hadn’t heard this? Better stock up then! Is there an alternative where you can footbath 500+ an hour by just running through?

Can’t find anything online about it?

Nithsdale · Nov 26, 2018

It had been re-classified after lab tests confirmed it as a carcinogen... exposure caused cancer in rats. IIRC that was back in 2016 or 2017...

But it was still classed safe for us to use in the footbathing of livestock so it was a case of carry on as usual. I hadn't heard anything since and know nothing of any market withdrawal

Northeastfarmer · Nov 26, 2018

It stinks, I stopped using it, can’t be good for you

Greythundercloudys · Nov 26, 2018

I got a splash of it in my eye once, nipped and watered like mad. Used to do lambs fatn in sheds every ten day with it, fairly dryed there feet up.

Al R · Nov 26, 2018

Greythundercloudys said:
I got a splash of it in my eye once, nipped and watered like mad. Used to do lambs fatn in sheds every ten day with it, fairly dryed there feet up.

They say it deactivates after a few days, last year at lambing I was at 1 of the farms a few miles away pulling rottens out of a ewe, closest water source for a mile was a footbath i’d used 44 days before right next to me, put my hands/arm in for a clean after being told by FA it deactivates after a few days and my hands stung like as if it was freshly poured!

Longlowdog · Nov 27, 2018

https://www.gea.com/en/binaries/FIL-FORMALIN-hsnoSDS_tcm11-34611.pdf
It is poison, known carcinogen, suspected mutagen and all round bad guy. Any parent using their kids to shove reluctant sheep through a footbath while they do 'important stuff' need boiling in a vat of this sh*t.

Exfarmer · Nov 27, 2018

Actually formalyn , formaldehydes are not known carcinogens , but possible carcinogens. It is certainly not nice in the eyes or any cut, but a very effective bactericaide/ virucide

Nithsdale · Nov 27, 2018

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/changes-to-formaldehyde-formalin-rules

No change since 2016.

There is no restriction on its use by farmers.

Lovegoodstock · Nov 27, 2018

Appreciate it can be harsh, always have used in open air and if not a real hot blazing day ive not had a bad experience, but another example of too many people needing food, needing cheap food, appreciate the policy of @Tim W and the likes of, I really do, but whilst their principles kick in, say, to the likes of me, you are losing a fair % of breeding sheep, and we are talking uk, talk about worldwide where those sheep walking long distances and fail to do so fall by the way side without these treatments we could be talking big losses, can see the point in outlawing but also see the need...

Tim W · Nov 27, 2018

It's horrible stuff & i loath it
There's too much routine use of it (and other treatments) ----
Seems to me that we could really do with a national push for long term footrot control , one off vaccine use along with clean grazing & footbathing (at the right time ) & a decent cull plan makes so much difference

Surely if you have to use a footbath every few weeks there must be something very wrong?

Nithsdale · Nov 27, 2018

Lovegoodstock said:
Appreciate it can be harsh, always have used in open air and if not a real hot blazing day ive not had a bad experience, but another example of too many people needing food, needing cheap food, appreciate the policy of @Tim W and the likes of, I really do, but whilst their principles kick in, say, to the likes of me, you are losing a fair % of breeding sheep, and we are talking uk, talk about worldwide where those sheep walking long distances and fail to do so fall by the way side without these treatments we could be talking big losses, can see the point in outlawing but also see the need...

Like everything - in the right scenario it has a place.

I use it, but only 2 or maybe 3 times a year. I used to use it every time sheep/lambs were in the pens as part of my footrot eradication plan. I wouldn't use it in a shed, and as I found out recently I use it at far lower/more diluted levels than one of my neighbours.

It should be noted - in the lab, those rats which developed nose cancer were subject to inhaling very high levels of neat Formalin for extended periods.

Bongodog · Nov 27, 2018

shumungus said:
Sorry if this has been covered in another thread, am being told formalin being withdrawn by some distributors from the start of 2019. Has anyone else heard anything? I know it is being banned for embalming people but hadn't realized they were moving as quick in the agri world.

Certainly not banned for embalming, lot less generally used in fluids now, but not banned (wife's profession)

Al R · Nov 27, 2018

Nithsdale Farmer said:
Like everything - in the right scenario it has a place.

I use it, but only 2 or maybe 3 times a year. I used to use it every time sheep/lambs were in the pens as part of my footrot eradication plan. I wouldn't use it in a shed, and as I found out recently I use it at far lower/more diluted levels than one of my neighbours.

It should be noted - in the lab, those rats which developed nose cancer were subject to inhaling very high levels of neat Formalin for extended periods.

Like when the rats died from glyphosate? Apparently they had nothing else in the cage and could’ve died from starvation?

Longlowdog · Nov 27, 2018

Glyphosate has no C.O.S.H warning, none whatsoever, formalin on the other hand has plenty. Cosh labels are not voluntary, they are government fixtures after onerous testing paid for by the producer.

shumungus · Nov 28, 2018

Bongodog said:
Certainly not banned for embalming, lot less generally used in fluids now, but not banned (wife's profession)

Have a read of this.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46294432

Agric · Nov 28, 2018

Nithsdale Farmer said:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/changes-to-formaldehyde-formalin-rules

No change since 2016.

There is no restriction on its use by farmers.

I got told the reason formalin is harder to get is due to less firms being able/willing to deliver it rather than the rules around it. Not sure how true this is though.

Bongodog · Nov 28, 2018

shumungus said:
Have a read of this.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46294432

Exactly, not banned but "regulated" and not for a number of years.

Formalin being withdrawn?

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