Pesticides and veterinary medicines
What you need to do...
The advertisement, sale, supply, storage and use of all pesticides is strictly controlled under current UK legislation. The key issues are:
- Storing and transporting pesticides
- Using pesticides safely
- Using veterinary medicines, including sheep dips
What you need to know...
Pesticides may be hazardous substances under the COSHH Regulations
Veterinary medicines may contain substances that are potentially harmful to human health. The use of these products will be subject to COSHH Regulations.
Pesticides form a wide group of products including fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, growth regulators, rodenticides and wood preservatives. If you use pesticides as part of your job you should read the Code of Practice for using plant protection products which tells you safe ways to store, transport, handle and use pesticides.
Only buy pesticides that have been approved for storage and use in the UK. Look for the MAFF, MAPP or HSE approval number on the label on the container. Beware of all offers of cheap pesticides, as these may be illegal unapproved products. You can find lists of approved products on the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) website. (CRD is an agency of HSE.)
Storing and transporting pesticides
Store all pesticides in their original containers with the approved product labels. Never decant pesticides into drinks bottles or other similar containers.
HSE’s Agricultural Information Sheet AIS16 Guidance for storing pesticides for farmers and other professional users [56KB] sets out the standards for both fixed and mobile stores. All stores should be:
- designed to contain leakage or spillage;
- constructed of non-combustible material; and
- secured against unauthorised access.
Never carry pesticides in the cab of a tractor, self-propelled equipment or other vehicle. Use either:
- a vehicle with a bulkhead between the cab and the load compartment;
- a secure, leak-proof chemical container; or
- a secure cabinet mounted on the outside of the vehicle or on a trailer.
Make sure you lock the vehicle or cabinet whenever you are not in sight of it.
Using pesticides safely
The decision to use pesticides should not be taken lightly, and should form part of a thorough risk assessment. You may need expert help.
Failure to use pesticides correctly can put people and the environment at risk.
- Always read and make sure you understand the instructions on the label and in any leaflet supplied with the product. Failure to follow these instructions may be an offence and may lead to prosecution.
- The code of practice for using plant protection products gives advice and guidance on how to take all reasonable precautions when storing, handling, using, keeping records and disposing of pesticides and pesticide waste. Make sure you follow the advice in the code. Failure to do so is not an offence in itself, but the code is statutory and can be used in evidence against you if there is a prosecution.
- Make sure you use any personal protective equipment identified in the instructions.
- Only spray when weather conditions are suitable to reduce spray drift.
- Try to avoid walking through treated areas.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke when applying pesticides.
- Wash off splashes from the skin and clothing immediately, and wash before eating, drinking, smoking or taking a rest break.
- Do not use faulty application equipment.
- Do not overfill sprayer tanks and secure all caps and lids before use.
- Keep a record of all pesticide use.
- Report all suspected cases of poisoning or other adverse reactions, so they can be thoroughly investigated.
If you need to report a suspected pesticide incident in animals you should phone (freephone) 0800 321 600. If it involves people, you should contact the Health and Safety Executive reporting incidents line 0845 3009923 and report it to the team there. Further information is available on the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (pesticides) website
Using veterinary medicines, including sheep dips
When you need to administer veterinary medicines to livestock, you will need effective control measures to reduce the risks to human health, for example:
- Select a less hazardous veterinary product, eg a water-based vaccine instead of an oil-based one.
- Use a safer application system, eg a pour-on or injectable product may be safer for the operator rather than plunge dipping for sheep.
- Provide effective engineering controls, eg properly designed dipping facilities with splash screens around the dip bath.
- Provide facilities to ensure animals are properly restrained.
- Ensure operators are properly trained and competent to safely use the product. Work with veterinary medicines should only be done by competent persons who have received adequate instruction, information and training. It is an offence to use sheep dip unless this is done by, or under the supervision and in the presence of, a person who holds a nationally recognised Certificate of Competence.
- Dispose of any surplus concentrate or dilute product safely.
- Store securely all medicines and application equipment such as syringes and needles, where children cannot get at them.
- Always follow the label or package instructions carefully, especially those relating to personal protective equipment.
- Wash off splashes from the skin and clothing immediately, and wash before eating, drinking or smoking.
- Report all suspected cases of poisoning or other adverse reactions, so they can be thoroughly investigated.
If you need to report a suspected adverse reaction to veterinary medicines in animals or humans, you should contact the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) on 01932 338427. VMD is agency of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
10th Annual Advisory Committee on Pesticides - Open meeting
Monday 9th November 2009, 11.00am - 4.00pm
The Monk Bar Hotel, York
/ Arabic
/ Bengali
/ Chinese
/ Farsi
/ Gujarati
/ Hindi
/ Kurdish
/ Pashto
/ Punjabi
/ Tamil
/ Urdu