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The Fungicide Resistance Action Group (FRAG-UK)
The Fungicide Resistance Action Group (FRAG) produces guidance on pesticide resistance issues. Hosted by AHDB, this information can be used to help protect crops and the long-term efficacy of fungicides.
The AHDB-supported Resistance Action Groups (RAGs) are informal, UK-based groups consisting of experts from the Crop Protection Association (CPA) member companies, other representatives from the agrochemical industry, a range of independent organisations, including public-sector research institutes, and the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD).
About the Fungicide Resistance Action Group (FRAG)
FRAG guidance
Fungicide resistance management (cereals 2021)
Fungicide resistance management (cereals and the use of multisites 2020)
Fungicide resistance management (soft fruit 2019)
Fungicide resistance management (potato late blight 2018)
Fungicide resistance management (oilseed rape 2017)
Fungicide resistance management (apple and pear pathogens 2015)
Further information
FRAG constitution and membership
Note: FRAG information published before 2016 can be accessed via the National Archives
Cereal disease management homepage
How fungicide resistance happens
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.
Visit the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) website
Mode of action labelling for UK plant protection products
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.