[moose]

Just spotted this

http://www.hortweek.com/Turf/article/1228308/eu-ban-methiocarb-slug-pellets/?DCMP=EMC-CONGrower Bulletin

[JayG]

Oh well, at least we amateur growers still have metaldehyde slug pellets, or the so-called "organic" ferric phosphate alternative (if they go I suspect the "Homebrew" board will suddenly become extremely popular!  )

[4 Seasons]

I'd be interested to know why because a dead slug is a dead slug.
Probably something to do with water contamination.

[crh75]

I believe the methocarb ones are very poisonous, far more so than metaldehyde, and will kill insects, beetles and earthworms (and more) as well as the slugs.  Also being far more poisonous it is more fatal to mammals that eat the dying slugs than the other types mentioned above (metaldehyde and ferric-phosphate).

[Salmo]

My understanding is as follows.

Methiocarb stays in the soil/water a long time. Metaldehyde is equally poisonous. Ferric phosphate is poison to slugs but not to any birds/animals that eat the bodies.

If we need to poison slugs the preferred product is ferric phosphate.

[crh75]

Metaldehyde is equally poisonous.

According to WHO methiocarb is highly hazardous whereas mtaldehyde is moderately hazardous.

Sorry to split hairs!