23 April 2010
NAAC Says NO to Notification
In its submission to Government this month, the NAAC made a firm and
comprehensive argument that mandatory notification to residents of spraying was out of the question.
This follows years of lobbying on behalf of members directly to Ministers,
to the Royal Commission and now again to Government.
This comes as part of a consultation which is gathering views on how best to introduce a package of
measures of new European pesticides legislation, which came into force in November 2009. The intention is to do even
more to reduce the impacts of pesticides on human health and the environment.
In the UK, views are being gathered at this stage and then we expect a report in August summarising the Government’s
response, prior to a further consultation on the proposed UK legislation.
The NAAC has made its views very clear, supported by member surveys, that a legislative requirement to notify
residents prior to spraying is entirely unacceptable. Instead we have supported a voluntary system whereby residents
could come forward for information, then allowing land managers to choose how best to respond with the most appropriate
local solutions.
The consultation also included questions on training, machinery testing and water protection.
The NAAC has sought to ensure that contractor’s views are properly represented.
We can now only wait to hear the Government’s response to know how hard we will need to continue to
lobby to ensure that practical and realistic measures are introduced to the UK. We will keep members informed.