Pond Pads & the EC

MEP Chris Huhne visiting Tony Pain at Green Ways

Green Ways Pond Pads are Fully EC Compliant

Green Ways introduced barley straw treatment for algae in in garden ponds with the launch of Pond Pads 12 years ago and was most appreciative of Geoff Hamilton's support. Consternation reigned in September 2003 when it was learned that barley straw would be banned under an EC directive.

Green Ways contacted the Centre for Aquatic Plant Management, the Federation of Small Businesses, MP Mark Oaten and MEPs Roy Perry and Chris Huhne. Negotiations with the HSE, the enforcement agency in the UK, reached deadlock but the EC Minister for the Environment in Brussels, Margaret Walstrom, asked Tony Pain for more information. Dr. Jonathan Newman Head of CAPM, prepared a paper and both Tony and Dr. Newman were invited to attend a meeting of the Competent Authorities in Brussels at which the paper was accepted.

So the use of barley straw is permitted under EC legislation and Green Ways can continue to demonstrate its unrivaled expertise in pond algae control with the only fully biodegradable barley straw packages for ponds of all sizes.