Page 6 - ALG Issue 3 2019

legal matters
Pesticide use on allotments
Whether controlling the slugs eating your lettuce or weeds growing on your plot, you may be considering using a pesticide product. This term covers a wide range of chemicals and sprays, all of which are used to control pests on plants; only Home and Garden products should be used on an allotment and these include:
• Slugpellets
• Hormonerootingpowders • Insecticides
• Weedkillers
• Fungicidesprays
• Plantgrowthregulators
• Animalrepellents
• Lawntreatments
All products to protect plants from pests and disease must be authorised before they can be marketed or used
in the UK. Regulations cover all Plant Protection Products, due to the fact that these products contain hazardous substances which pose a risk to human or animal health or environmental damage. For this reason, they do require assessment before they can be sold or used within the UK.
In addition to the above products there are pesticides that are not used for plant protection and these are called biocides and include:
• Fungicidalwashesandpatio cleaners
• Rat and mouse killers
• Fly sprays and ant powders
• Products used for algae
control and snail control in
ponds
• Cat repellents
PURCHASING PESTICIDES
Prior to purchasing any product, ask yourself: is it necessary? Can I use an alternative?
Also, check the list of products
on the HSE website below, as this will give a list of products authorised for Home and Garden Use.
It is important that you do not buy pesticides from the internet or when abroad until you have checked that they can be used in the UK. If products are not licensed for use in the UK, you could face prosecution for illegal use and storage of pesticides.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pesticides/user- areas/garden-home.htm
BEWARE ALLOTMENT SOCIETIES BUYING IN BULK
It is illegal for allotment societies to buy pesticides in larger containers
to sell on to members in smaller quantities where the product is put
into alternative packaging without
the original label. This is for safety reasons as the original packaging will have been assessed for storage of
the pesticide and the label for correct instructions on safe use, storage and disposal of the product. Such situations could lead to incorrect and unsafe
use, storage and disposal, which may affect the health of people and animals as well as pollute the environment. Allotment societies found to be doing this, risk enforcement action being taken against them.
However, buying products in bulk where the product being sold on to allotment society members remains in the authorised packaging with the authorised label is allowed.
check the list of products on the HSE website, as this will give a list of products authorised for home & garden
DISPOSAL OF PESTICIDES SAFELY
Protect your local environment, wildlife and water pollution. Never dispose of unwanted products, diluted products or rinsings in household drains, ditches or ponds.
Always:
• Useupsurplusspraysolutionsby
applying on areas the product is
designed to be used for.
• Rinse empty concentrate containers
three times before disposal. • Dispose of unused unwanted
products in its container at a registered Household Waste Recycling Centre. For further information on this, contact your local waste authority.
Most of the pesticides that you can use in the home, garden
or allotment are approved for amateur use. This means that you do not
need specific training to use these products. The
label will be worded so that the instructions are easy to follow, to
ensure that the product is used safely. These products are most likely to be found in your local garden centre, DIY store or supermarket.
Many other pesticides, such as those used on farms, or in public areas
are approved for use in much larger commercial situations. The labels of these 'professional' products can be more complicated, and by law must only be used by those who have had the appropriate training. Professional products should never be used by
the untrained amateur gardener. Someone with the right training can use a professional product in the home, garden or allotment so long as the intended use appears on the label.
Liz Bunting
Legal and Operations Manager
USE GARDEN CHEMICAL SAFELY:
• Considernon-pesticidemethodstocontrol pests, weeds and diseases.
• Ifyoudoneedtopurchaseapesticide,check what you have in your shed – you may already have what you need. Check that you can still use it. Only purchase what you need for the task.
• Alwaysreadthelabelcarefullyanduse according to the instructions; remember to store the product in the original container and place out of reach of children and animals.
• Alwaysapplythecorrectdosethatisoutlined on the instructions; only make up the amount you need. Making up too much will waste the product and money. Use only on areas where you identify a problem.
• Forsmallpatchesoftheproblem,consider purchasing Ready to Use products, which are already diluted for use.
• Sprayintheearlymorningorearlyevening, when bees are not active and in calm conditions and avoid spray drift.
• Beawareofwatercoursesandditchesclose to your allotment and never apply close to a ditch or watercourse.
• Rememberthebanontheoutdooruseof metaldehyde, a pesticide used to control slugs in a range of crops
and in gardens, is to be
introduced across Great Britain from the 30th June 2020.
6 Allotment and Leisure Gardener