The Insecticide Resistance Action Group (IRAG)

The Insecticide Resistance Action Group (IRAG) produces guidance on pesticide resistance issues. Hosted by AHDB, this information can be used to help protect crops and the long-term efficacy of insecticides.

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).

As part of a UK aphid-monitoring programme, Rothamsted Research needs aphid samples, especially those that unexpectedly survive treatment with insecticides. Although any aphid species can be submitted, the researchers focus on some species/situations more than others to reflect samples received and the need to detect new resistance issues emerging in the UK aphid population.

Complete RAG information published before 2016 can be accessed via the National Archives

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.