Notification of pesticide use
Since February 2007 it has been compulsory for some pesticide users to give notice that they are planning to use pesticides.
Notification is based on the principle that people have a basic right to know when pesticides are used. Notifying people about pesticide use means that they can make informed decisions about their contact with pesticides. The aim of notification is to let people choose to reduce their exposure to pesticide use if they wish.
Three key groups need to give notice of pesticide use:
- Public authorities, including State government departments, local councils and county councils. They need to have developed notification plans that describe how they will provide the public with notice about their pesticide use in outdoor public places such as parks and ovals, and in public places near sensitive sites such as schools and hospitals.
- People who organise a professional pesticide treatment by a pest management technician (that is a pest controller licensed by WorkCover NSW) in the common areas of multiple occupancy residential complexes, including property and strata managers and managing agents. They need to give residents prior notice of pesticide use in these areas.
- Pest management technicians who apply pesticides in the common areas of multiple occupancy residential complexes. They need to give residents notice that they are using pesticides in these areas.
More about these laws
If you would like to know more about these laws, you can view:
- Notification of pesticide use by public authorities in public places
- Notification of pesticide use when pest management technicians treat residential complexes
- the amended Pesticides Regulation 1995.
Help to prepare or revise a plan
If you work for a council or public authority, you can view or download:
- a guide for councils preparing a notification plan (planguide.pdf 35 kb)
- an example plan (exampleplan.pdf 30 kb)
- a blank plan template (plantemplate.doc 186 kb).
Help to prepare a notice
In relation to common areas of multiple occupancy residential complexes, fact sheets describing these responsibilities are available for:
- property/strata managers (07225multioccupancy.pdf 126 kb)
- pest management technicians (pestmanagement.pdf 172 kb).
You can also print out or download a blank form for giving notice of a pesticide use and simply fill in the blanks:
- blank form for prior notice of pesticide use (NPAintended.doc 23 kb)
- blank form for giving notice while the pesticide is being used (NPAcurrent.doc 23 kb).
Alternatively you may wish to use this form as a guide to design your own form.
Voluntary notification
Voluntary notification principles still apply for pesticides users in agricultural situations. Agricultural industries are encouraged to adopt statements of principles or codes of practice to assist their members to provide notice of their pesticide use. The NSW Farmers Association has developed a Statement of Principles for voluntary notification of pesticide use.
Pesticide Control Order Air 1
Pesticide control order Air-1 (pdf 83 kb, requires Acrobat Reader), prohibits the spraying of pesticides from aircraft within 150 metres of a residence, school, factory premises or other specified public place without written consent of the occupier. For further information about what pilots must do before they apply a pesticide see the DECC's Pesticides Act webpage.