Regulatory Update: 07/2009 (Amended)
Re-issued: 5 March 2009
Introduction
1. The Pesticides Safety Directorate has prepared this consultation paper to collect your views on arrangements for the collection of information relating to the use of pesticides.
2. We explain what specific information you may want to give us in the consultation paper, which comes with this letter.
Responses
3. Please reply to the consultation by 27 May 2009 to:
Edward Heywood
Pesticides Safety Directorate
Mallard House
Kings Pool
3 Peasholme Green
YORK
YO1 7PX
Email: edward.heywood@psd.hse.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: (01904) 455746
4. You can also get printed copies of the consultation paper from Edward Heywood. You should contact him if you want more information about the issues in the consultation or the consultation itself.
5. Please tell us in your reply whether you are commenting as an individual or representing the views of an organisation. If you are replying on behalf of an organisation, please make it clear who the organisation represents and, if necessary, how the views of the members were assembled.
Background
6. The pesticide usage survey programme has existed in its current form for a number of years: collecting data once every:
- two years, in the case of arable crops; and
- four years in the case of other crops (bulbs and flowers, glasshouse, grassland and fodder, hardy nursery stock, hops, mushrooms, top fruit, soft fruit and vegetables (outdoor) and situations (aerial applications and grain stores).
Data tends to be collected during the period October - April and is reported within 6-14 months of the end of the data collection period.
7. We have decided it is appropriate to review the make-up of the programme and following informal discussions with a small number of stakeholders are proposing collecting data once every:
- year, in the case of arable crops; and
- two years in the case of glasshouse, vegetable (outdoor), top fruit and soft fruits.
Data relating to use on other crops and situations would be collected on an ad-hoc basis as and when necessary. We seek to ensure information is reported within 4 months of period under report.
Consultation Arrangements
8. Further details can be found in the consultation paper which is with this letter. The consultation paper consists of:
- An executive summary of what the consultation is about and what you need to do;
- A list of the people and organisations we are consulting;
- Details of the code of practice for consultations. We are conducting this consultation in line with the Government’s consultation criteria. This section of the booklet tells you what this means and how we will handle your responses.
9. We will make copies of the replies we receive publicly available, in line with Defra’s policy of openness. Published copies of the replies we receive will be available at:
Defra Information Resource Centre
Lower Ground Floor
Ergon House
17 Smith Square
LONDON
SW1P 3JR
Telephone: (0207) 238 6575
Email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk
10. Your reply may also be used, quoted or published in a summary of responses to the consultation.
11. The Information Resource Centre will supply copies of consultation responses to personal callers or requests by phone, letter or email. Give the library at least 24 hours notice of your requirements if you can. You will need to pay the library a fee to cover administrative costs such as photocopying and postage costs.
12. If you do not want your reply to be made public, and you want us to keep it confidential, you must clearly say this. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in an email response will not be treated as a request for confidentiality.
13. You should also know that there may be circumstances in which Defra will be required to give the information in your reply to a third party if they ask for it. We may need to do this to comply with our obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
14. If you want to complain about the consultation process itself rather than comment on the issues in the consultation you should write to:
Dave Bench, Director of Policy
Chemicals Regulation Directorate
Mallard House
Kings Pool
3 Peasholme Green
YORK
YO1 7PX
Email: dave.bench@hse.gsi.gov.uk
Further Information
We have now published a summary of the responses (08/10/2009), please click on this link to take you to the pdf document.:
PUS Summary of Responses (pdf 144kb 15 pages)
