The draft new Standard for the Management of Agrichemicals is now available for public comment until the end of January 2021
NZS 8409:2004 (Management of agrichemicals) provides practical and specific guidance on the safe, responsible and effective management of agrichemicals, including plant protection products (such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides), veterinary medicines, and agricultural use of detergents and sanitizers.
The revised standard incorporates key changes, including:
• Recent changes to legislation – in particular changes related to storage, and training and competency;
• Updated hazard classifications to reflect the GHS classification system being adopted;
• Inclusion of dairy detergents and sanitisers, but exclusion of fumigants;
• Updated and expanded off-label guidelines to align with current industry practice;
• New spray planning requirements including a requirement for an on-site risk assessment prior to spray application; • Revised requirements for notification and signage;
• Changes to good practice in areas such as PPE, recycling and disposal;
• Changes in technology such as UAVs and robotics;
• Wider agrichemical use is included, for example conservation, revegetation work and vegetation control within powerline corridors.
The draft is available for public comment for a period of 12 weeks. All comments submitted during this period are reviewed by the standards development committee before the standard is balloted on.
You can view or download the New Zealand draft standard on the Standards New Zealand website.
Alternatively, you can download the Public Comments Submission Form by copying and pasting the following link into your URL: https://www.standards.govt.nz/assets/Drafts/DZ8409-PC-Form.docx
The closing date for comments is 1 February 2021.
