Magazine - Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products

By Editor in H & S on 15th Feb 2006 8:00

Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products

By Editor

A copy of the new Code of Practice for safe use of Pesticides is now available to down load from the Defra web site.

A new Code of Practice replaces the old orange code book. This Code of Practice is for all professional users of plant protection products in England and Wales in respect of Part III of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA) and the regulations controlling pesticides, particularly plant protection products, under that part of the Act.

It replaces three previous codes of practice from 15 December 2005:

• the Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Pesticides on Farms and Small Holdings ("the Green Code")
• the Code of Practice for the use of Approved pesticides in Amenity Areas and Industrial Areas ("the Orange Code") a voluntary code produced by the National Association of Agricultural Contractors and the British Agrochemical Association
• those parts of the Code of Practice for the safe use of Pesticides for Non-Agricultural Purposes - The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 ("the Blue Code") which deal with forestry.

The Code's statutory basis means that it can be used in evidence if people are taken to Court for offences involving pesticides.

See following link to obtain a copy of the new Code of Practice :-

Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products

The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

We employ around 200 scientific, policy and support staff headed by a Chief Executive and three Directors at our offices in York.

Our aims and objectives are:

• To ensure the safe use of pesticides for people and the environment.
• To reduce the negative impacts of pesticides, encourage reductions in their use, taking account of best practice, and the development and introduction of alternative ways to control pests, weeds and diseases. This is part of the move towards sustainable food and farming.
• To harmonise pesticide regulation within Europe and provide a level playing field for crop protection.

Defra Web site :- DRFRA

Read more articles in H & S, by Editor or from February 2006.