The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has issued guidance for sprayer operations to comply with the EU Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive.

The directive established a framework to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides by seeking to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment.

Training and registration requirements for pesticide advisors, distributors, equipment inspectors, and users of plant protection products (PPPs) in Ireland are regulated under the directive.

The DAFM's pesticide controls division advised to never fill a sprayer directly from a watercourse, or mix, load or handle PPPs adjacent to a watercourse.

Paying full attention when filling the sprayer is essential, according to the DAFM which also said that a single foil cap can contaminate a small stream for 30km.

Any person who applies PPPs designated for "professional use", irrespective of application method or quantity, must be trained and registered as a professional user with the DAFM.

To purchase professional use PPPs, a professional user must produce their professional user number or equivalent. The DAFM reminds professional users of the following:

As appropriate, engage with a pesticide advisor to get advice on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and PPP application;
Do not spray if rainfall is forecast. Is there an adequate window to carry out the application? Check wind speed and direction to determine if spraying should take place;
Ensure pesticide application equipment is within test certificate requirements before use;
All pesticide application equipment must be calibrated regularly. A record of calibrations must be maintained for inspection purposes;
Select the best nozzle for application taking into account spray coverage, whilst minimising spray drift;
Ensure availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and use as appropriate;
Determine the correct amount of spray solution required for the target area to reduce the volume of spray remaining after application.

Never leave a sprayer unattended during filling, mixing/agitating regardless of location. If pesticides get into a watercourse, they could ultimately end up in drinking water.

It is the responsibility of professional users to make sure they are aware of the location of all nearby watercourses, including drains, wells, and springs, the DAFM said.

All pesticide handling operations must be carried out well away from these features. If an aquatic buffer zone is specified on the product label, it must be complied with during spraying.

Pesticide safeguard zones (where no use or storage of pesticides is permitted) have been established for groundwater abstraction points, e.g. wells, boreholes etc.

Professional users have been reminded by the DAFM to never fill/wash a sprayer on concrete or sealed surface areas, where spillage/run-off to drains/watercourses is possible.

When adding PPPs to the sprayer tank, the professional user must wear PPE. Firstly, half fill the sprayer with clean water, agitate and add PPPs as per label instructions.

Take the utmost care to avoid spills and never leave a sprayer unattended. It is recommended that a containment system should be in place, such as a bund or lip around the filling area;
Use a covered handling area, if available and suitable, to help minimise wash-off and drips from the filling operation;
Triple rinse empty containers into the sprayer. Never use an empty pesticide container for another use. Recycle triple rinsed containers;
After finishing spraying, and whilst still in the field, clean the sprayer thoroughly, inside and out, and spray out the washings on a suitable area of the same crop, ensuring that the maximum allowed dose for that area is not exceeded;
All PPPs stored on farm must be kept in a secure, bunded chemical storage facility, which is clearly identified;
Risk assessment records demonstrating the need for PPP use must be maintained for applications in specific areas, including areas used by the public or vulnerable groups,
Public parks and gardens, hospitals, public schools, public playgrounds etc., Special Protected Areas (SPA) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).

Accurate and up-to-date pesticide application records must be kept by the professional user of all PPPs applied. IPM records must also be maintained by the professional user.

Guidance on protecting drinking water from pesticides, herbicide use in grassland, and details on pesticide safeguard zones are also available from the pesticides control division.