Update to test requirements
As part of compliance for the whole chain of plant protection product (PPP) use, HSE pesticide enforcement officers (PEO) have the role of checking all official controls are in place. From importers, manufacturers and distributors right through to the operator applying the product.
Visits made to the businesses using and applying PPP’s are carried out in all sectors, but it is mainly in the horticulture and amenity sectors where clarification of test requirements of certain types of equipment has been necessary. The term ‘pedestrian’ equipment falls in this category along with knapsack and handheld where a statutory test is not required, however these still must be inspected on a regular basis. Over time the complexity of a number of these machines has evolved that some are now as sophisticated, and comparable in size, to tractor-mounted equipment that is required to be tested.
Following discussions with CRD terminology has now been added to the guidance, which is explained as follows; equipment that does require an NSTS test now includes manually propelled or self-propelled trolley type equipment with three or more wheels and a motorised pump. These machines fall in the same category as boom sprayers which are 3m and under, slug pellet and micro-granular applicators, seed treating and weed wipers. Equipment that does not require a test are pedestrian sprayers with a maximum of two wheels or with a manually pressurised pump. To assist operators in meeting the requirements of regular inspections NSTS have check sheets available on their website which also includes somewhere to record a calibration.
All other equipment types and timescales of test and re-test remain the same. For clarification on other types not listed please contact NSTS directly and our team will be pleased to help.
Test Centres across the whole of the UK, go to the NSTS website for more information
E: info@nsts.org.uk T: 01733 207606 W: www.nsts.org.uk
Written by Ian Forman, NSTS Manager
