REDUCED-VOLUME SPRAYING – ADVICE FOR ALL PRODUCTS
Terms and conditions
This advisory note is provided by Belchim Crop Protection to give information on the use of reduced water volumes through ground-applicator hydraulic sprayers for the Belchim Crop Protection product range. The contents of this document are for information only and do not constitute any form of recommendation by Belchim Crop Protection. Any products applied at reduced water volumes are at the users risk with respect to biological efficacy.
Background information
As a result of implementation of the cross compliance requirements (SMR 10), there has been much interest in the use of reduced-volume spraying for plant protection products. The Code of Practice for Safe Use of Plant Protection Products (January 2006) is an important source of practical advice for farmers and growers on how to use pesticides and plant protection products safely and by doing so, to meet the legal obligations which cover the use of pesticides. Paragraph 4.6.4 of the Code of Practice (pg 80) provides advice on ground-based reduced-volume spraying (where the concentrate being sprayed is diluted with a lower volume of water than the minimum volume recommended on the label for that dose) as follows:
“You should not use reduced-volume spraying if the label (or the relevant notice of approval):
In these situations, you may reduce the volume only if you also reduce the dose of product so that the concentration of the spray solution is no greater than that recommended on the product label.”
Thus any product with any of the above three statements/restrictions on the product label (including the phrase “Wear suitable protective gloves when handling contaminated surfaces”) may be applied at reduced volume but the dose of product must also be reduced accordingly such that the final spray concentration remains the same.
The Code of practice “has a special position in law”. It states in paragraph 1.4 (pg 17) “If you follow its advice you will be doing enough to keep within the law. But you may be able to work in a different way from the code as long as that way is just as safe”. This means that a product can still be applied at reduced volume without reducing the dose, provided risk assessments for operator, bystander and worker exposure show that the use is “just as safe”. Risk assessments have been conducted for a number of Belchim products that would otherwise have reduced-volume restrictions under the Code of Practice.
Where products are not subject to any of the above restrictions and can therefore be applied as a reduced-volume spray without reducing the dose*, the Code of practice states:
“In all other cases you may choose to apply a pesticide as a reduced-volume spray as long as:
READ THE LABEL BEFORE USE. USING THIS PRODUCT IN A MANNER THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE LABEL MAY BE AN OFFENCE. FOLLOW THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR USING PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS.
Belchim Crop Protection Ltd, 1B Fenice Court, Phoenix Park, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 8EW. Telephone 01480 403333