Here's an abbreviated version of the Amenity Forum Guidance 2013.
If you want the full article click here 10 Golden Rules - Progreen News
It's pretty much commonsense but it may help to refresh memories.....
Pesticide Use: Ten Golden Rules
Recent changes in legislation and other challenges are highlighting the need for very best practice in weed, pest and disease control. This document sets out important rules about pesticide use. It is not comprehensive but aims to set out the key factors.
1. Get trained.
2. Carefully plan pest, weed and disease control strategies using a suitable advisor where necessary.
3. Buy pesticides from reputable distributors.
4. Store pesticides correctly, use only authorised products and comply with conditions specified on the product label. These are legal requirements..
5. Maintain application equipment. It is a legal requirement that certain types of application equipment are tested on a regular basis.
6. Minimise use. Using the minimum amount of product necessary to control pests, weeds and diseases makes economic sense. It is also a legal requirement in: areas frequented by the public; conservation areas; and on certain transport infrastructure and sealed surfaces.
7. Protect workers and the public. It is a legal requirement to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to protect human health when advising on, storing, handling or using pesticides.
8. Protect water. It is a legal requirement to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to protect the environment when storing, handling or using pesticides. Particular care should be taken to avoid pollution of water.
9. Check the guidance. Government and industry bodies provide advice (in paper form and on the internet) to help ensure pesticides are used safely and sustainably and a key source is the Amenity Forum.
10. Keep records. It is a legal requirement for distributors and users to keep records of pesticide sales and use.
The Amenity Forum has a library of good practice guidance notes covering a range of these topics in more detail. These are available at www.amenityforum.co.uk.
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Replies
Really pleased to see Best Practice initiatives being pushed out to us, the industry practitioners.
Personally feel, that CPD should play a larger part for aspects such as this. Pesticide producers, Suppliers etc should engage more fully with the person at the end of the chain spraying their products as many get trained, pass the PA tests and often never revisit key topics or become aware of changes/recommendations etc - except on forums such as LJN. So, it is reassuring to see events being organised to support this ....(ie from ProGreen )