Managing pesticides in NSW
Introduction
Many Commonwealth and NSW government agencies, as well as other stakeholder organisations, have a role in managing pesticides in NSW. This fact sheet explains the roles of some of these organisations and provides information on where to seek guidance on pesticides and their use.
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
Pesticide products sold in Australia must be approved and registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Before registering the product, the APVMA is required to conduct an assessment of potential impacts of the pesticide on the environment, human health and trade, and of the likely effectiveness of the pesticide for its proposed uses. When a pesticide contains an active constituent not previously used in Australia, the APVMA must seek public comment before registering the product.
Only registered pesticides can be used in NSW, unless the APVMA grants approval for use under a permit. Registration includes approval of label directions for each pesticide product. Label directions specify how, and under which circumstances, the pesticide may be used to treat the relevant target pest or pests. Labels also give directions on clean-up, storage and disposal, and personal and environmental safety. After registration, the APVMA regulates pesticides up to and including the point of retail sale. Once sold, pesticides are regulated by each State's control-of-use legislation.
The APVMA's Chemical Review Program reviews the registration of existing pesticides to determine whether changes are necessary to the registration or whether the registration should be withdrawn. The APVMA invites the public to make submissions on existing pesticides, and these submissions are considered as part of the review.
The APVMA has published information sheets, which set out its role and responsibilities. These sheets are available on the APVMA website.
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Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW)
In NSW the Pesticides Act 1999 requires the users of registered pesticides to strictly follow the approved label or permit directions. The Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) enforces the proper use of pesticides in NSW, including those used in agriculture, on public lands and on domestic and commercial premises; but not including veterinary chemicals, which are regulated by the Department of Primary Industries. The DECC has hundreds of officers who are authorised to enforce the provisions of the Pesticides Act.
The DECC also provides guidance, through education programs and audits, and by facilitating communication among different stakeholder groups, to help pesticide users improve their management of pesticides.
Many pesticides, because of their flammability, combustibility or toxicity, are classified as dangerous goods. While dangerous goods are being transported on public roads, they are regulated by the DECC under the Road and Rail Transport (Dangerous Goods) Act 1997. WorkCover NSW regulates the transport of dangerous goods on private roads.
Under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act), the DECC regulates general pollution and waste matters in NSW. This control also applies to pesticides. For example, fish kills caused by pesticide residues in waterways are generally investigated under the POEO Act.
The DECC evaluates the impacts of chemicals, including pesticides, on organisms and the environment through the Centre for Ecotoxicology, which is part of a cooperative research venture with the University of Technology Sydney.
WorkCover NSW
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (OHS Act), WorkCover NSW seeks to protect workers in the workplace. Regulations under the OHS Act control hazardous substances including most (though not all) pesticides. The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 is the most recent and important of these. It covers identification of hazardous substances in the workplace and the assessment and control of risks associated with their use.
To help industries implement the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001, WorkCover NSW has developed the Safe Use and Storage of Chemicals (Including Pesticides and Herbicides) in Agriculture Code of Practice 2006, and the Safe Use of Pesticides, Including Herbicides in Non-agricultural Workplaces Code of Practice 2006. These codes are a practical guide to the standard of health, safety and welfare required by this Regulation and the OHS Act.
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001, WorkCover NSW also licences and regulates pest management technicians (pest control operators) and commercial users of certain pesticide fumigants.
Some pesticides are classified as dangerous goods because they are flammable or combustible liquids, or because of their toxicity. WorkCover NSW is responsible for regulating the classification, packaging, labelling, use and storage of dangerous goods. It is also responsible for regulating the transport of dangerous goods on private roads. (The transport of dangerous goods on public roads is regulated by the DECC.)
For information on the safe use of pesticides and occupational health and safety see the WorkCover website.
NSW Health
NSW Health advises on and assesses health-related pesticides incidents. The Environmental Health Branch of NSW Health is involved with the general policy aspects of chemicals (including pesticides) and health. NSW Health also works with the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, Moree, which focuses on agricultural health and pesticide matters.
NSW Health laboratories test for pesticide contamination in drinking water samples, in accordance with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
The Pharmaceutical Services Branch of NSW Health administers legislation on scheduled poisons with respect to the national requirements for the labelling and packaging of scheduled pesticides for domestic use. These requirements are outlined in the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing Therapeutic Goods Administration publication, Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons.
NSW Food Authority
Under the NSW Food Act 2003, the NSW Food Authority routinely monitors results of pesticide and other chemical samples submitted by food companies to ensure compliance with the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code.
The NSW Food Authority also contributes to the Australian Total Diet Survey, which monitors the amount of pesticides and contaminants present in food and estimates their intake in the diets of Australians.
NSW Department of Primary Industries
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) regulates veterinary chemicals (under the Stock Medicines Act 1989) and stock foods (under the Stock Foods Act 1940 and the Stock (Chemical Residues) Act 1975). It also administers the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 and the Rural Lands Protection Act 1998. For more information see DECC's chemical managment page and/or visit the DPI website.
NSW DPI provides advice on the use of farm chemicals in agricultural production, including information on integrated pest-management systems that can minimise the use of pesticides and other farm chemicals. The DPI, through the Rural Lands Protection Boards network, also provides training and advice and oversees the use of poisons for the control of feral pest animals.
NSW DPI publications, Primefacts and factsheets, contain information on a range of agricultural topics including the use of farm chemicals.
Local government agencies
Local Government councils have planning, regulatory, management, research and/or monitoring roles relevant to pesticides. Local councils and some county councils are responsible for noxious weed control within local government areas and have an important role in zoning for appropriate adjacent land uses under local environmental plans (LEPs) and other planning mechanisms.
Important non-government information sources
Many industry groups, chemical suppliers, and community and environment organisations have useful information on managing and using pesticides.
The agricultural and veterinary chemicals industry program, Agsafe, accredits agricultural and veterinary chemical supply premises and staff, and may impose sanctions where accreditation obligations are not met. Commercial resellers of agricultural and veterinary chemicals must have Agsafe-trained staff who are bound by an industry code of conduct to issue responsible and professional advice. Agsafe also coordinates a program of managing waste farm-chemical containers, in collaboration with the National Farmers' Federation, the Australian Local Government Association, and agricultural and veterinary chemical supply associations.
The Rural Lands Protection Boards are responsible for the control of pest animals, and for the supply and distribution of pesticides for vertebrate pests, plague locusts and wingless grasshoppers. The detection and control of plague locusts is coordinated on a national basis by the Australian Plague Locust Commission.
There are many interest groups, community-based organisations and environment groups with expertise in pesticide matters. Examples include local and peak environment groups, organic growers associations and organisations representing pesticide user groups such as urban pest controllers and aerial applicators.
Further contacts
Local Government Association of NSW and Shires Association of NSW
www.lgsa.org.au
(02) 9242 4000
National Farmers' Federation
www.nff.org.au
(02) 6273 3855
NSW Farmers' Association
www.nswfarmers.org.au
(02) 8251 1700
Australian Local Government Association
www.alga.asn.au
(02) 6122 9400
Rural Lands Protection Boards
www.rlpbnsw.org.au
(02) 6391 3242
Australian Plague Locust Commission
www.daff.gov.au/aplc
(02) 6272 5076
Agsafe (Croplife Australia)
www.agsafe.com.au
(02) 6230 4799 {(02) 6230 6399}
Total Environment Centre
www.tec.org.au
(02) 9299 5599
Nature Conservation Council of NSW
www.nccnsw.org.au
(02) 9279 2466
Organic Retailers and Growers Association
1800 356 299 or (03) 9737 9799
Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia
www.aerialag.com.au
(02) 6241 2100
Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association
www.aepma.com.au
1800 252 772