All boom sprayers over 3m in width (mounted and trailed), blast sprayers and train sprayers over five years of age needed to have been tested and certified by November 2016. This was one of a number of measures introduced under the EU Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD).

Last year, however, a European Commission audit on the implementation of the SUD found Ireland was not fully compliant with the EU requirement to have all pesticide application equipment inspected.

Table 1 outlines the additional pesticide application equipment which must be tested and includes weed wipers, granular applicators, boom sprayers under 3m in width, fixed sprayers, seed treatment applicators and fogging equipment.

The Department of Agriculture said the delay in the rollout of these tests was in part due to the absence of an approved European standard for such machines.

Deadline

The original date for the mandatory initial testing of these additional types of pesticide application equipment was 31 December 2020. However, in correspondence with the Irish Farmers Journal, the Department clarified it is likely that the date will now be deferred until at least 31 December 2021.

This is due to COVID-19 restrictions impeding the finalisation of the test standards and training of equipment inspectors. No testing of this equipment has been carried out to date.

Existing equipment inspectors who complete supplementary modules on the specific requirements for the new equipment will be able to carry out the tests. These training modules are currently being developed. It will be up to individual inspectors to determine the cost of this new testing service.

Tested equipment which satisfies the criteria will receive a certificate and details will be retained on an online register similar to the system currently used for boom sprayers. Equipment will need to be tested every three years.

The measures will be enforced as part of the cross-compliance, horticulture and end-user inspections from the start of 2022. Penalties will be applied (severity based on risk assessment) where equipment has been used without satisfying the test criteria and being certified on the register of tested equipment.

Granular applicators

Granular applicators include any piece of equipment which applies granular or pellet formulations of plant protection products and includes full-width spreaders, in-furrow equipment, band spreaders and specialised applicators. Initially, however, the testing regime will be aimed primarily at slug pellet applicators. Some of the key points which will be tested are outlined below.

1 Hopper: The hopper unit must be fitted correctly, be in good condition, have a functional lid and you must be able to empty it.

2 Metering unit: The drive and metering units must be functional and accurate.

3 Spreading disc: The discs must be in good condition including the motor and the vanes. The agitator and shutter mechanism must be functional.

4 Output/distribution: The output and distribution will be tested using test trays and dummy material. The counted quantity of particles on the left and right will need to be within +/- 15% of the average.

Weed wipers

Some of the key points to be tested on all types of weed wipers (those using a cord or absorbent surface) are outlined below. In addition to these points, devices for cleaning of the machine will also be inspected

1 Tank: The tank will be checked for leaks during an inspection. The tank must have a lid, have a volume indicator and you must be able to empty it.

2 Pump: The pump capacity needs to be suited to the needs of the equipment and pulsations mustn’t exceed 10% of the working pressure. With the section valves closed, there must not be dripping from any part of the machine.

3 Hoses: Hoses must not show excessive bending and abrasion through contact with surrounding surfaces.

4 Roller/cloth/cord: The cloth, roller or the cord needs to be in good condition with no visible damage.

5 Control devices: All devices for measuring and/or adjusting the pressure and/or flow rate must functional.

6 Filters: All filters shall be in good condition and changeable.

Quad sprayers

Sprayers under 3m in width including quad sprayers will need to be tested. The testing criteria is expected to be largely similar for boom sprayers over 3m in width, indicated below.

1 Pump: The pump must be working with no leaks or visible pulsations in the nozzle outputs.

2 Spray tank: The tank and lid will be checked for leaks and the content level must be easily read.

3 Controls: All controls for on-off, flow, pressure and section switching should be working without leaks.

4 Filters and pipes: There need to be no hose kinks on pipes and they must not be worn to the point where woven fabric is visible. Any filters must be functional.

5 Spray boom: The boom should be generally straight, with all nozzles evenly spaced and angled.

6 Nozzles and outputs: As with conventional sprayers, nozzles will be tested to ensure the output of a number of nozzles is within 10% of rated output.