Information on the Safe Use of Pesticides

Pesticides Safety Directorate - www.pesticides.gov.uk

The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).  It employs around 200 scientific, policy and support staff headed by a Chief Executive and three Directors from offices in York.

Their website is one of the most useful, if not the most useful, website in the UK for the latest information on approved products and their use.

On their recently updated  homepage in the main central area of the page are links to the following information:

• What does the PSD do?
• What are pesticides?
• How we approve pesticides for use
• How we ensure pesticides are used safely
• Making sure our food is safe     
• Minimising the environmental impact of pesticides

As well as the above, there is a section detailing:

• The latest PSD news - as well as the most up to date news a link is give to more PSD news...
• The latest regulatory update - as well as the most up to date regulatory information a link is give to the regulatory updates index...
• The latest information update - as well as the most up to date regulatory information a link is give to the information updates index...

On the top of the homepage are links to the following:

• PSD databases - this in turn gives access to a wealth of very useful information covering the following:
  • The Pesticides Register Database
    This new application replaces the On-label, Approval Holder, Aerial Application, Crops and Associated Groups, and LERAPs Product Searches. (User Guide)
  • Garden Pesticides Search (Amateur Uses)
    Search for Plant/Area, Product Name, Marketing Company, Active Ingredient,  MAPP No. or Field of Use for products approved in amateur situations. 
  • Published "On-label" e-@pprovals documents
    Available in Word 97 format.
  • Adjuvant Information Database
    Search by Adjuvant Name, Adjuvant Number, Applicant, Effective Adjuvant Component, Active, Pesticide Product and Crop.
  • Products with Specific Off-Label Approvals (SOLAs)
    Search for Off-Label Approvals.
  • Revocation Notices for Off-Label Uses of Pesticides
    Where off-label approval has been immediately withdrawn revocation notices will be published here.
  • Products approved as 'Own-Use' Parallel Imports
    An introduction and list of approvals available in Word 97 format.
  • Products under Phased Revocation and Withdrawn Products
    Search by Year of Expiry and Marketing Company.
  • Published Revocation Documents from 31/07/2003
    Available in Word 97 format.
  • Products subject to a ‘No-Spray’ Buffer Zone
    Obtain a list of products together with guidance on whether Local Environmental Risk Assessments for Pesticides (LERAPs) can be used.
  • Crop Conversion - Old and New Names
    Find the old (historical) and new (hierarchy) name for a crop/situation.
  • Commodity Substances
    View approval information for commodity substances that can be used as a pesticide.
  • MRLs Databases
    View the latest Maximum Residue Level (MRL) information (UK/EC) and Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX).
  • Toxicological Endpoint Database
    View Toxicological Endpoint information for active substances i.e. Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI); Acute Reference Dose (ARfD); and Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (AOEL).

Last modified: Tuesday January 22, 2008                                                                                                 Copyright © Ian Gower Associates Ltd 2008