What do we do?
The Chemicals Regulation Directorate office in York answers enquiries from a range of external customers including members of the public, students and academics, the pesticide industry, farmers and other organisations. In order to answer these enquiries we have set up two separate enquiry teams - the "Applicant Enquiries Team" to answer enquiries from applicants or agrochemical industry representatives and the "Communications Branch" to answer all other general enquiries.
Applicant Enquiries team
Applicants or agrochemical industry representatives should email any queries to applicant-enquiries@hse.gsi.gov.uk
The time it takes for us to answer your question depends on how urgent it is and whether we need to search older paper records or seek specialist advice.
Our Charter and Statement of Service Standards requires that we answer all correspondence from you within 15 working days of receipt. If we cannot provide a complete reply within that time we will let you know why and when you may expect a full response.
Our response times are currently:
- 15 days - usually for standard written or e-mailed enquiries;
- 9 weeks - usually for more complex enquiries unless you need an urgent reply.
Please note that these deadlines are subject to change and we will always contact you within 15 days to let you know when we will reply to you by.
Communications Branch
Members of the public and other types of enquirer should contact the York Communications Branch on 01904 455775 or email pesticides@hse.gsi.gov.uk.
Our Charter and Statement of Service Standards requires that we answer all correspondence from you within 15 working days of receipt. If we cannot provide a complete reply within that time we will let you know why and when you may expect a full response.
Please note that these deadlines are subject to change and we will always contact you within 15 days to let you know when we will reply to you by.
The Website Team
We look after the website by checking pages, hyperlinks, making sure the website is updated on a regular basis and answering any website questions from colleagues or customers.
Email our Webmasters
Answers to many of the questions that people ask us can be found on our website:
Hot Topics.
Frequently-asked questions.
Search for pesticide products.
Specific Off-Label Approval (SOLA) Database.
Maximum Residue Level (MRL) database.
How to register a pesticide.
Using pesticides safely.
European review.
Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products (which replaced the "Green Code").
Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP).
Defra Expert Committtee on Pesticide Residues.
Reporting spraying incidents.
Charter and Statement of Service Standards.
