BIS, the Department for Business, Inno
vation and Skills has produced guidance new requirements for machinery used for pesticide application.
These new requirements do not change the definition of machinery in the Machinery Directive, but do add an obligation for manufacturers and importers of pesticide application machinery to ensure the protection of the environment in addition to their existing obligation to protect the safety and health of workers and users of the machinery.
Users and Manufacturers
The new measures will be applicable to all new machinery designed or constructed after 15 December 2011.
You need to be aware that while there are no specific obligations on users of such equipment (e.g. farmers), in certain circumstances a user may unwittingly become the “manufacturer” of the pesticide equipment if they make alterations to it which significantly alter the performance, function, or original specification, of the equipment.
A product will become a “new product” when it has been subject to important changes that aim to modify its original performance, purpose or type after it has been put into service.
New requirements
In general terms, machinery for pesticide application designed and constructed after this date must:
- facilitate precise filling and ensure complete and easy emptying of pesticide, while preventing spillage and avoiding water source contamination;
- ensure pesticide is deposited on target areas and where appropriate an even and homogenous deposition must be ensured;
- prevent losses while the pesticide applications function is stopped;
- facilitate cleaning;
- facilitate the changing of worn parts; and
- facilitate inspections by being able to connect the necessary measuring instruments.
The guidance can be found here.
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