In recent months, several new pesticide requirements have begun to impact on advisers, farmers and the retail trade. These are driven by the introduction of the Sustainable Use Directive (SUD). Among other things, the SUD aims to:

  • Reduce the use of pesticides (where practicable);
  • Enhance the environment;
  • Limit the exposure of the operator to potentially harmful chemicals;
  • Promote the use of ‘‘integrated pest management’’.
  • These requirements, as they affect the different players, are summarised here.

    Pesticide advisers

    The SUD requires that all pesticide advisers (PA) practising in Ireland are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). To be included on the current list, an adviser must have completed the new Level 7 Professional Diploma in Integrated Pest Management and the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, or have an equivalent qualification deemed acceptable to the DAFM. This registration is now complete and the list of approved PAs is online.

    Pesticide advisers must then comply with requirements for Continuous Professional Education (CPE). It is the responsibility of each PA to make provision for their personal CPE credits to be recorded and maintained. IASIS has developed CPE rules for PAs and this system of CPE credit allocation (and the recording and maintenance of these credits) has been recognised as meeting the requirements of the DAFM.

    Anyone wishing to use the IASIS system to record their CPE must apply to IASIS at www.iasis.ie. At the end of every year, the DAFM will receive a list from IASIS of the PAs who have met their CPE requirements, allowing them to remain on the DAFM register of approved PAs. The DAFM may choose to recognise alternative CPE systems in the future. Registered PAs are automatically considered to be qualified as professional users (PU).

    Pesticide users

    All farmers (and other professional end-users) applying professional-use PPPs, will have to be registered with the DAFM by 26 November 2015. To register as a PU, you are required to be trained in application. DAFM recognises the following qualifications as acceptable for PU registration:

  • FETAC 5N0732: Handheld sprayer.
  • FETAC 5N1797: Boom sprayer.
  • City & Guilds PA1 + PA2a: Boom sprayer.
  • City & Guilds PA1 + PA6: Handheld sprayer.
  • DAFM-registered pesticide adviser.
  • Teagasc pesticide application course (as part of one-year or two-year qualification).
  • Teagasc pesticide application standalone short course.
  • Professional user application can be done online. Proof of qualification(s) may be requested during registration. For those individuals in need of training, it is imperative that they only source courses from an approved provider for that particular course (eg FETAC or City & Guilds).

    PUs must be trained in the specific type of application equipment they are using – boom sprayers, blast sprayers, etc. You will be required to provide proof of the claimed qualification during any inspection.

    Register of purchase:

    Since the beginning of 2014, PUs are required to provide a name, address and herd number (or flock number) when purchasing Plant Protection Products (PPPs).

    The retailer is also responsible for recording the batch number of the product sold, ensuring full traceability for all products sold and used on farms. This traceability is essential if ever there was to be a product recall or if illegal/counterfeit product was found to be on the market in Ireland.

    Sprayer testing:

    In addition to the requirement that all professional pesticide users are trained and registered, the application equipment used must also be fit for purpose. So, from 26 November 2016, all sprayers with a boom width greater than 3m, and all orchard and blast sprayers, will have to be tested by DAFM-registered inspectors.

    These inspectors will be independent contractors trained to a recognised standard. They will test sprayers based on an agreed protocol and issue certificates of compliance on successful completion. Testing is required once every five years up to 2020 and every three years thereafter.

    A list of approved sprayer inspectors is available on the DAFM website. Sprayer calibration remains the responsibility of the operator.

    IPM:

    Among its other objectives, the SUD seeks to reduce the use of pesticides while encouraging integrated pest management (IPM). IPM incorporates many of the techniques that most farmers would take for granted, eg cultural control, variety resistance, ploughing and sticky traps to quantify pests.

    PPP users are obliged to indicate how they use IPM and this is required in all cross-compliance inspections from 2014 onwards. This will mean justifying the use of all individual PPPs recorded on one’s PPP worksheet. Compliance with IPM can be achieved by completing the IPM check sheet.

    Retailers

    From 26 November 2015, all outlets selling PPPs (professional or amateur products) will have to be registered with the DAFM. As well as agricultural businesses, this will also include hardware shops, garden centres and any other outlets stocking such products. After this date, it will be illegal to sell such products unless the premises is registered.

    A facility for registering premises will be available in due course on the DAFM website. Businesses with multiple outlets will need to have each individual outlet registered. A registered premises commits to ensuring that the store and/or retail space for PPPs complies with DAFM standards. The specific standards depend on the size of the business.

    Each registered retail outlet must also have a qualified/trained individual on site at all times to provide information on product use, health and environmental risk and safety. These pesticide distributors (PDs) must first complete the FETAC Level 5 course in Handling and Distribution of Pesticides.

    This course has been developed by IASIS and will be available towards the end of 2014. An online course for smaller businesses selling only PPPs for non-professional use will also become available.

    Full traceability is now in place for all professional use PPPs, so that products can be traced from the wholesaler to the end user. Farmers must maintain records for three years and retailers will keep them for five years for inspection purposes.

    Care during spraying

    Farmers are again reminded to take every available precaution to avoid pollution of water courses with respect to pesticide residues. In recent weeks, residues of MCPA have been detected in a number of watercourses and, while the concentrations of MCPA are not at significant levels, their presence gives rise to concern.

    Where products are not being used in accordance with label recommendations, offenders can be prosecuted and/or the use of products can be banned.

    Key actions

  • Keep your pesticide worksheet updated and current.
  • Online PU application, registered PAs, IPM check-sheets and FAQs can be found on www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/SUD.htm.
  • CPE rules can be seen at: www.iasis.ie/advisors.php