The NSW EPA’s compliance campaign reviewed nearly 170 spray records across North West NSW. Image: NSW EPA
People who use pesticides as part of their work in the Moree area are being reminded to record the full product name, spray area, date and weather conditions after each application.
The reminder follows a NSW Environment Protection Authority campaign across North West NSW, which found most users were following the rules but some records were incomplete.
EPA officers reviewed nearly 170 spray records from properties in the Moree, Narrabri, Walgett, Warren, Liverpool Plains, Gunnedah, Warrumbungle Shire, Coonabarabran and Gilgandra local government areas.
The campaign led to 19 advisory letters and eight formal warnings for minor breaches of the Pesticides Act. The EPA did not provide a breakdown showing how many records were checked, or how many letters or warnings were issued, in the Moree area.
NSW EPA Director of Operations Julian Thompson said the checks focused on people using pesticides on their own properties and whether they were taking steps to prevent chemicals moving beyond the target area, including through spray drift.
“In NSW, landowners can legally apply pesticides to their own land using ground-based spraying equipment without an EPA licence, but they still need to comply with the rules,” Mr Thompson said.
The EPA said everyone it contacted had completed the required training, and most were using pesticides in line with the product label.
Mr Thompson said label directions were legally binding and helped protect nearby people and the environment from chemical drift.
Most formal warnings related to poor record-keeping. Problems included missing the full product name or leaving out details about the area sprayed, the date of use and weather conditions.
People who use pesticides as part of their work generally must complete a record within 48 hours and keep it for three years.
Records must include the user’s details, the date, the full product name, how much was used, the area treated and the location. Outdoor spraying records must also include the estimated wind speed and direction, along with any major weather changes that could increase the risk of spray drift.
The EPA does not require a special form, but the person applying the pesticide must make sure the record is accurate and includes all required details.
“Keeping up-to-date records isn’t just an administrative task, it’s an important risk management tool that allows the EPA to investigate compliance with the Pesticides Act,” Mr Thompson said.
The campaign was informed by earlier EPA pesticide checks carried out in Central West and North West NSW since 2017.
More information, including a standard pesticide application record form, is available on the NSW EPA website.
