Vibrance Premium targets key fungal threats as regulators speed up product clearances
New Zealand has approved a new fungicide designed to protect potato crops from a wide range of damaging diseases, providing a boost to one of the country’s most valuable horticultural sectors.
The decision by New Zealand Food Safety clears Vibrance Premium for use on potato seed tubers, targeting multiple fungal threats including black scurf, silver scurf, black dot, gangrene and fusarium dry rot, while also suppressing common scab.
Deputy Director-General Vincent Arbuckle said the approval comes at a critical time for the country’s potato industry, which is valued at approximately $1.47 billion.
“This broad-spectrum product will be a welcome addition for growers,” Arbuckle said, noting that the application was processed within the statutory five-day timeframe following prior clearance from the Environmental Protection Authority.
Regulatory approval was granted after a comprehensive, science-based assessment confirmed that risks to food safety, trade, animal welfare, plant health and biosecurity are effectively managed under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act. The product had earlier secured approval under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms framework, a prerequisite for final registration.
The clearance forms part of a broader pipeline of agricultural products entering the New Zealand market. Over the past year, New Zealand Food Safety has approved 135 new products and nearly 100 updated or new label claims, spanning crop protection and animal health.
Recent additions include herbicides, insecticides and pest-control treatments, reflecting continued efforts to expand farmers’ access to tools that improve productivity while maintaining stringent safety and environmental standards.
The approval of Vibrance Premium underscores New Zealand’s focus on supporting agricultural innovation and safeguarding crop yields amid evolving disease pressures.
