1. Who is the Draslovka Group?
The Draslovka Group are global leaders in the manufacturing of CN-based chemical specialties and agricultural chemicals, including next generation fumigants, and biocides – and was established in 1906.

Draslovka holds a strong market position in the CN – based specialty chemical industry through the roll-out of newly developed environmentally sustainable products, supply chain optimization, and advanced application practices implemented based on consumer’s needs.

Reliability, responsibility, and sustainability represent our core values which are consistently applied in all processes. Our goal is to build a comprehensive portfolio of chemical companies, with an interface that ensures synergy of production and services.

In its early days, the focus of the company lay in the production of hydrogen cyanide, but an extensive line of industrial products and services has since emerged. Today, Draslovka has three main business divisions: Specialty chemicals, mining solutions and agricultural solutions.

The Draslovka Services Group is responsible for the agricultural solutions business unit, and was established in Melbourne, Australia, in late 2015 to directly fill a gap between manufacturer and end-user.

2. What do we do at The Draslovka Services Group?
We increase quality and yield for our customers, by providing innovative and environmentally sustainable fumigants and superior services, to eliminate pests, weeds and disease.

3. What products are part of our agricultural solutions portfolio?
EDN™, BLUEFUME™, eFUME™, Retacel™

1. What safety measures do you take for your products?
We pride ourselves on taking safety very seriously. Safety is considered from the point of manufacture, through the distribution, right down to the end user. Actually, safety doesn’t stop there – Draslovka ensures safety is also considered in planning, training, maintenance, and documentation.

2. What safety measures do we need to take when dealing with your products?
Our products go through extensive review by government bodies, such as the Office of Chemical Safety (OCS) and the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Through this review, conditions of use are set on the product and clearly listed on the SDS and product label.

3. How do you ensure the safety of clients/customers while using your product?
Our team of specialists complete rigorous training and certification to understand the dangers and requirements associated with the service and application of our product portfolio. Following this, safety documentation is provided and complied with to give our customers complete confidence in our delivery. Safety comes first and transparency is key – if you have a question, our team will have an answer.

1. What is EDN™?
EDN™ is a broad-spectrum environmentally sustainable fumigant in the form of a liquefied gas.

2. Is EDN™ Toxic?
Yes, EDN™ is toxic – that is the nature of fumigants – but unlike its counterparts, it breaks down very quickly and does not accumulate in living organisms or the environment.

3. In what ways can EDN™ affect the human body?
Simply put, the only route of EDN™ exposure is through inhalation, which results in a reduction in oxygen usage and tissue damage throughout the body.

The scientific explanation is that once EDN™ enters the body it reacts with moisture to produce cyanide and a cyanate ion. The cyanide ions target cytochrome C oxidase – an enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain that helps the tissue use oxygen.

EDN™ exposure to humans is not cumulative, meaning that when someone uses the fumigant repeatedly, they are not at risk of it building up in the body.

4. Is exposure to EDN™ in the air detectable?
Anyone in contact with low concentrations of EDN™ will experience watering eyes, and at even lower concentrations, some people can smell it. These act as very good warning signs that there is EDN™ in the air.

5. Can EDN™ be fatal?
Of course, exposure to very high concentrations of any fumigant, including EDN™, may cause severe illness or even death – but properly managed, EDN™ is one of the safest fumigants globally.

6. What are the effects of EDN™ on the environment?
EDN™ is an environmentally sustainable fumigant that is naturally broken down in the atmosphere. It is not a greenhouse gas and does not destroy the ozone layer.

7. How will EDN™ be used?
EDN™ is mostly used as a timber and pre-plant soil treatment to target pests, weeds and soil borne pathogens.

8. How is EDN™ applied?
EDN™ is an easy application due to its boiling point (-21 degrees Celsius) – this allows EDN™ to be applied without the need for artificial vaporisation.

The treatment of EDN™ for soil can be applied through multiple methods such as cold gassing, shank injection and chemigation.

Timber application follows conventional methods used for other fumigants, however, there is no need for vaporisation due to its physical properties.

9. Is EDN™ carcinogenic?
No, unlike other fumigants on the market, EDN™ has no known carcinogenic effects

10. What happens to EDN™ post fumigation?
EDN™ is very light (½ the density of methyl bromide), and so the little amount present at the end of fumigation moves away very quickly and dilutes in the environment, reducing any risk.

11. Is EDN™ the same as Hydrogen Cyanide?
No – EDN™ and Hydrogen Cyanide are entirely different substances, with very different properties. ADD link to the cyanide website.

12. How quick is the plant back time for soil treatment of EDN™?
It varies in crops but ranges from 14 to 20 days.

1. What is BLUEFUME™?
BLUEFUME™ is the longest used fumigant out of all fumigants – used for the first time in 1866 in California USA.

2. Is BLUEFUME™ Toxic?
Yes, BLUEFUME™ – that is the nature of fumigants – but unlike its counterparts, it breaks down very quickly and does not accumulate in the body or the environment.

3. What is BLUEFUME™ used for?
BLUEFUME™ is used for control of storage pests (ie. rodents, insects). BLUEFUME™ is commonly used in flour mills, chocolate factories, warehouses, planes, museums (artifacts), ships and on fruits such as pineapples and bananas.

4. Is exposure to BLUEFUME™ in the air detectable?
Yes, HCN, the active substance of BLUEFUME™ is easy to detect by electro chemical sensors that you can find in multiple personal safety detectors available on the market.

5. What are the effects of HCN on the environment?
The BLUEFUME™ impact on the environment is negligible due to the natural presence of HCN in nature – nuts, plants, and fires.

6. How is BLUEFUME applied?
There are two application methods for BLUEFUME™ which are based on its packaging. BLUEFUME™ can be stored and distributed in cans and application is done with a specialised can opener. In the case of BLUEFUME™ in cylinders, application is done via BLUEFUME™ application set, connected to the system of distribution lines and ended by spraying nozzles in fumigated area.

7. What are the safety measures put in place when using BLUEFUME?
BLUEFUME™, like every other fumigant has mandatory PPE and recommended safety procedures. For example: Personnel applying BLUEFUME™ are required to wear a full-face mask with appropriate filter or SCBA, long sleeve, long pants, safety boots and chemical resistant gloves.

8. What is the re-entry period for BLUEFUME™ treatment?
Usually, treatment time is no longer than 24 hours and ventilation is between 6-24 hours depending on whether forced ventilation is used.

9. Can I use BLUEFUME™ in my country?
BLUEFUME™ needs to be registered by local authorities and you can find information about our registration process on www.draslovka-services.com.

1. What is eFUME™?
eFUME™ is a post-harvest fumigant used for controlling insect pests of stored product – grains, oil seeds, dried fruits, dates, and fresh food commodities i.e., fruits and vegetables. eFUME™ is 16.7% Ethyl Formate, 83.3% balance CO2.

2. How do you apply eFUME™?
eFUME™ is applied by heating the product through a high flow rate vaporiser specifically designed for use with eFUME™.

3. Do you have a vaporiser/heating system to quickly apply the product?
Draslovka Services has developed and built a fast-dispensing vaporiser in response to the industry demand for a faster application. In a 40 ft shipping container it takes less than 5 minutes to apply eFUME™ @ 420 g/m3, saving nearly 1 hour compared with vaporisers currently available on the market.

4. Do you know if you are exposed to eFUME™?
Yes. You will smell the active ingredient. Ethyl formate has a distinctive odour characteristic of rum.

5. How is it packaged?
eFUME™ is packaged in cylinders containing 30kg NETT product. An on-site package is currently under development for the treatment of large volumes i.e., silos.

6. Is it safe to use eFUME™?
Yes. The active ingredient, Ethyl Formate, is Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) by the American Food and Drug Administration. It is a naturally occurring compound that can be found in some green vegetables and is also used as a flavouring in bread, cheese, and beer.

7. Do you need a licence to apply eFUME™?
It depends on location. However, to ensure all handlers of eFUME™ are following correct safety procedures – Draslovka Services conducts Product Stewardship Training specific to the use of eFUME™.

8. What is the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for approved products?
MRLs are set to ensure that residue limits do not pose harm or hazard to human health. As eFUME™ does not leave residue, the MRL is not a contributing factor if the correct ventilation procedures are followed.

9. What are the environmental effects?
eFUME™ is completely environmentally sustainable and has no detrimental effect on the ozone layer.