Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 July 2013
197. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when standards for the testing and use of agricultural sprayers here in accordance with European Directive 2009/128/EC will be published; the way these standards will be enforced and if sanctions will apply where required standards are not reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32367/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory Instrument No. 155 of 2012 which transposes Directive 2009/128/EC into Irish law, makes it a legal requirement for all “agricultural sprayers” over 3m wide, as well as orchard sprayers to be tested by November 2016. Schedule 1 of the legislation prescribes the standard to which the above equipment will be tested i.e. boom sprayers in excess of 3m wide must conform with EN Standard 13790-1:2003, while orchard and blast sprayers must conform with EN Standard 13790-2:2003. These standards are published on the website of the European Committee for Standardisation and are available for purchase.
All legal requirements placed on various people through regulations mentioned above will be monitored and measured by officials from my Department. This includes inspection at farm level under Statutory Management Requirement No. 9 (pesticides). There will not be any additional inspections at this level but rather the scope of the inspections will be enhanced to include issues such as end-user training, certification of sprayer and operation of the principles of integrated pest management. Statutory Instrument No. 155 of 2012 allows for the application of penalties. Where a breach is detected to a Single Payment Scheme recipient, a disallowance through this scheme may also apply.
