Consultation on the Introduction of No-Spray Buffer Zones Around Residential Properties
All Approval Holders Letter 20/2003: Consultation
21 July 2003
Return to All Approval Holders Letter 20/2003
This letter seeks your comments on the enclosed consultation paper proposing the introduction of no-spray buffer zones around residential properties in England and Wales.
Contact Information
Please send your comments to Russell Wedgbury or Caroline Kennedy by 31 October. Russell may also be contacted by telephone on 01904 455749, by fax on 01904 455733, by email russell.wedgbury@hse.gsi.gov.uk or in writing. Caroline may be contacted on 01904 455706, by fax on 01904 455733, by email caroline.kennedy@hse.gsi.gov.uk or in writing. Any questions about this consultation exercise should be addressed to Russell or Caroline in the first instance.
Background
The risk posed to people living in the countryside from pesticide spray drift is assessed as an integral part of the pesticide approvals process. The risk assessment takes into account various factors such as wind direction and strength, the application method, sprayed volume rate, droplet size and uniformity, the speed of any vehicle used and sprayer mechanism width. Specific conditions of use for individual pesticide products are supplemented by guidance on best practice contained in the statutory Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Pesticides on Farms and Holdings (the "Green Code"). Taken together all the above factors constitute a robust system of assessment.
However, recently there has been much media attention on the issue of spray drift from pesticides. Scientific advice is that the risk assessment currently used provides adequate protection however spraying immediately adjacent to residents’ boundaries might in any case be considered socially unacceptable. Ministers therefore asked officials to explore what other controls on spray operations might usefully be introduced to increase public confidence in the current system. As a consequence Ministers have asked officials to conduct a full consultation exercise on the possibility of introducing no-spray buffer zones between the edge of spraying and surrounding houses.
The Consultation Paper
This consultation paper consists of a short summary of the key issues, a discussion paper and a Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (Partial RIA). The discussion paper lays out the proposals to introduce no-spray zones and the background to this. The purpose of the Partial RIA is to analyse the costs and benefits of the proposed measures. Both the discussion paper and the Partial RIA include a number of comments and questions that appear in the body of the text in emboldened text. These are included to explain the reasons behind the proposals in some of the sections, and to prompt responses on the crucial issues raised. However these are not intended to restrict your consideration in any way. We would welcome comments on any aspects of the consultation or any issues you might like to raise concerning the proposals.
How your Comments will be Considered
If you send in comments we will reply individually to you, responding to the points you make. Please let us know when you write to us if you do not wish to receive an individual reply. Once the consultation process is complete your comments will be taken into account in preparing the final recommendations that will go to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ( Defra) Ministers.
At the end of the 12-week consultation period we intend to make copies of the comments received publicly available. We will assume that your reply will be made available unless you indicate clearly that you wish part, or all of it, to be excluded. If you have no objection to your reply being made available for public examination, please send an additional copy for this purpose.
The main Defra library at Room 320, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR (Tel: 020 7238 6573) will supply copies of the available responses to this consultation on request. An administrative charge will be made to cover copying and postage. To enable requests to be dealt with efficiently and to avoid undue delay for those calling at the Library in person, it would be appreciated if personal callers could give the Library at least 24 hours notice of their requirements.
If you have any complaints regarding this consultation exercise they should be sent, in the first instance, to Dr Sue Popple in writing.
Thank you in advance for your co-operation. We look forward to hearing from you.
Further Information
A brief summary of the background, proposal and options regarding the consultation on the introduction of no-spray buffer zones around residential properties is available.
A partial regulatory impact assessment on the introduction of no-spray buffer zones around residential properties is available.
Further information is provided in a discussion paper on the proposals for the introduction of no-spray buffer zones around residential properties in England and Wales.
Further information on the Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Pesticides on Farms and Holdings (''the Green Code'') is available.
