Pesticides and biocides

If you supply pesticides or biocides you must check that the pesticides or biocides you sell have been approved for sale and use in Northern Ireland and that your products are labelled correctly. You may need to provide a safety data sheet (SDS) for your customers.

Apply to place pesticides and biocides on the market

Before you place a new pesticide or biocide product on the market, you must gain approval for that product before you market it. You must apply to the relevant registration authority and supply them with all the data and information they need to evaluate your product.

Once an approved product is on sale you should monitor it. If you find out about adverse effects of the pesticide or biocide on human health or the environment, you must tell the registration authority as soon as possible. You should also tell them about any unwanted effects on what is being treated.

If you place a biocidal product on the market for the first time, you may need to provide certain information to the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS).

Provide information for customers of pesticides and biocides

If you market or sell pesticides or biocides you must ensure that all packaging, labelling and advertising meets the requirements in the product's authorisation. In some cases, it must also meet the requirements of the Chemical Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulations.

If you supply pesticides or biocides you may need to use a hazard warning label or provide an SDS. This is now a requirement of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulation - see storing chemicals.

If you sell, supply or store to sell plant protection products, you should follow the 'Code of Practice for Suppliers of Pesticides to Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry' (the Yellow Code). This statutory code of practice covers storage, training requirements, transport, waste disposal and how to deal with spills - download the Yellow Code (PDF, 915K).

If you sell or supply plant protection products, you must ensure that there is sufficient staff holding specified certificates available at the time of the sale to provide adequate information to customers on use of the products, health and environmental risks and safety instructions.

You can find a full list of certificates relating to the sale and supply of pesticides that are considered to meet legal requirements (PDF, 208K).

The Yellow Code will also tell you who needs a certificate of competence for the job they do. You should ensure your staff keep their training up-to-date.