Asulam is a herbicide invented by May & Baker Ltd, internally called M&B9057, that is used in horticulture and agriculture to kill bracken and Rumex. It is also used as an antiviral agent. It is currently marketed, by United Phosphorus Ltd - UPL, as "Asulox" which contains 400 g/L of asulam sodium salt.
European phase-out and ban
Asulam was declared not approved by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1045/2011 of 19 October 2011 concerning the non-approval of the active substance asulam.
Concerns included: lack of evidence concerning the fate of the toxic metabolite
sulfanilamide and other metabolites; the poorly characterised nature of the impurities potentially present in the
chemical purity product; toxicity to birds. This decision is given in with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, and amending Commission Decision 2008/934/EC.
Further reading