The NFU has reviewed the findings of the HSE’s pesticide enforcement officers (PEOs), who have been undertaking farm visits to check for PPPs (plant protection products) compliance.
Several NFU members have been visited already and inspections will continue until April. To help farmers prepare for the possibility of an inspection it has released an overview of the PEO visit process and the common issues being found.
The most common issues found by PEOs during farm visits are:
- inadequate or compromised bunding in the pesticide store
- storage of unauthorised PPPs (a withdrawn product that’s no longer authorised for use)
- tight-fitting respiratory protection equipment being supplied to operators who are not clean-shaven and/or who have not received an appropriate face fit test.
When visiting other PPP users, PEOs have encountered other issues including:
- Record keeping – lack of comprehensive and accurate spray treatment records
- Qualifications – lack of qualifications for stem injection and automated sprayer usage
- Inspection of spray equipment – untested pedestrian trolley-type sprayers commonly used in horticulture
- Dilution of PPP concentrates – mixing occurring near unprotected drains or watercourses
- Storage of dilute PPP remnants for extended periods in spray equipment
- PPP containers – reuse of empty PPP containers for other liquids
- Oxidisers stored with PPPs – oxidisers are not physically segregated from PPPs
- Site location – stores sited next to combustibles such as straw/wood
PEOs carry out controls on the supply and use of PPPs to ensure compliance with the PPP Regulations in line with the requirements of the retained Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625. All farm visits will be prearranged, which is not the case with some other business sectors
One of the first things the PEO will check is that as a professional user of pesticides, the farm is registered with the Government, a legal requirement.
For those that haven’t then how to register with Defra can be found at: GOV.UK | How to register as a professional user of PPPs and adjuvants.
The NFU advises that those who are unsure should do so again – it’s not an issue to register twice. It is an issue if you are not registered at all. Registration involves completing and returning a fairly simple form.
Wherever breaches are identified, PEOs will take action to bring the operator back into compliance. This may range from verbal advice to formal enforcement action.
