Farming and production horticulture
If you use pesticides on a farm, in a market garden or for production horticulture, you must undertake special training, use and dispose of all pesticides safely, and keep proper records.
If you’re a farmer or employee using pesticides from the ground, on your own land or a family member’s land, you don’t need a licence. This includes using aluminium phosphide tablets or chloropicrin to control invertebrate and vertebrate pests. However, you do need to complete an initial training course and renew your training every 5 years or be under an EPA approved industry quality assurance scheme.
If you are applying pesticides from an aircraft (including drones or helicopters) you do need a licence from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the EPA.
You must also undertake the required training to use pesticides.
If you spray pesticides for a fee or as a service, you’ll need a Ground Applicator licence.
People who use pesticides in agricultural operations and other occupations must complete training every 5 years, unless they are eligible for an exemption because they only use small amounts of pesticides occasionally.
People who use pesticides in agricultural operations and other occupations need to keep records each time they use a pesticide. There is no legal form, format or design for keeping records.
Download a sample record keeping form (PDF 74KB) if you do not want to design your own.
Download record keeping fact sheets for:
Voluntary notification principles apply for pesticides users on farms.
You must inform neighbours of your intent to spray pesticides from an aircraft.
It is common courtesy to inform your neighbours when you intend to spray pesticides. Use best practice measures to avoid spray drift.
- Dispose of pesticide containers safely and even recycle them.
- Get guidance on managing rinsate and spray drift.
- Find out more on the safe disposal of pesticides.
- Information on the ChemClear program.
The EPA issues pesticide control orders for certain high risk pesticides to more specifically regulate their use or application. Note that if you use pindone or 1080, you must undertake special training. Find out more about applying 1080.
Search for people and businesses with NSW pesticide licences. You can check whether someone has a licence, what type of licence they have, and whether it is up to date.