S.L. 430.8 Art. 10Specific measures to protect the aquatic environment and drinking water. S.L. 423.20 S.L. 430.01 S.L. 427.28 S.L. 423.20

(1) The Director shall ensure that appropriate measures to protect the aquatic environment and drinking water supplies from the impact of pesticides are adopted. Those measures shall support and be compatible with relevant provisions of the Water Policy

Framework Regulations and Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 as implemented by the Plant Protection Products Regulations.

(2) The measures provided in sub-regulation (1) shall include:

(a) giving preference to pesticides that are not classified as dangerous for the aquatic environment pursuant to the Dangerous Substances and Preparations

Regulations, nor containing priority hazardous substances as set out in the Water Policy Framework Regulations;

(b) giving preference to the most efficient application techniques such as the use of low-drift pesticide application equipment especially in vertical crops such as hops and those found in orchards and vineyards;

(c) use of mitigation measures which minimise the risk of off-site pollution caused by spray drift, drain-flow and run-off. These shall include the establishment of appropriately-sized buffer zones for the protection of non-target aquatic organisms and safeguard zones for surface and groundwater used for the abstraction of drinking water, where pesticides must not be used or stored;

(d) reducing as far as possible or eliminating applications on or along roads, railway lines, very permeable surfaces or other infrastructure close to surface water or groundwater or on sealed surfaces with a high risk of run-off into surface water or sewage systems.