Dairy Farmers

The chemicals you use on your dairy farm are now controlled by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996, which replaces old laws such as the Dangerous Goods Act 1974, the Pesticides Act 1979, and the Toxic Substances Act 1979.

As a dairy farmer, sharemilker or contract worker on a dairy farm, these are some of the typical groups of chemicals that you might use.

Fuels
such as Petrol and Diesel
Herbicides
such as Roundup and 2,4-D
Foot Rot Bath
such as Formalin

If you store fuels you may need a Location Test Certificate for your premises (previously a Dangerous Goods Licence), and/or a Tank Certificate for your bulk tanks. Please refer to Compliance Guide - Petrol and Diesel (Farms)

You may need an Approved Handler Certificate for people handling the pesticides, although not all employees on the farm need to be Approved Handlers.

Location Test Certificates

You will need a Location Test Certificate:

  • if you are using and/or storing particular chemicals above certain minimum quantities
  • as a general rule, if you currently hold a Dangerous Goods Licence for your premises you will need a Location Test Certificate. There are exceptions eg for diesel.

For more information about obtaining Location Test Certificates, please refer to the Quick Guide - Location Test Certificates

Approved Handlers

An Approved Handler must make sure that certain chemicals are handled safely, that they do not harm people, nor damage the environment.

The table below shows which chemicals commonly used will need an Approved Handler. Note that not all farmers or farm employees will have to be Approved Handlers, as long as they are working under the guidance of an Approved Handler. However, both aerial and ground spray contractors will need to be Approved Handlers for most chemicals.

For more information about obtaining an Approved Handler Certificate

How to get Test Certificates

You must obtain your certificates from a Test Certifier. To find your nearest Test Certifier check the register or call ERMA New Zealand for a list of Test Certifiers to be posted to you.

Tracked chemicals

The most hazardous chemicals need tracking, and you will need an Approved Handler in order to use them. To buy them your supplier will need to confirm you are an Approved Handler, and that you have a Location Test Certificate if needed. The table at the end shows which chemicals are tracked.

When do I need to have all my certificates?

For fuels, if you need Location Test Certificates and/or Approved Handlers they will be needed following a timetable starting in October 2004. If you already hold a Dangerous Goods Licence, ERMA New Zealand will contact you to let you know what you have to do.

Key dates for pesticide Approved Handler Requirements

1 January 2005

You will need to be an Approved Handler by this date

31 December 2006

You will be deemed to be an Approved Handler until 31 December 2006 if you have two years consecutive and recent experience using pesticides under the old regulations. You will not need to actually prove anything to achieve this status, but may subsequently be asked to do so by an enforcement officer

1 January 2007

You will need to become a full Approved Handler by this date, which will require you to demonstrate an understanding of the new HSNO legislation and your experience

At a glance

You may recognise some of the chemicals you use in this table. However there will be others that are not listed here. Go to a Test Certifier to find out what you need to do.

Farmers: Dairy Test Certificates
Chemical Name Location Certificate Approved Handler Tracking
Formalin [foot rot bath] >2000 litres* Yes Any amount Yes
Roundup, Glyphosate No No No
2,4-D, MCPA, Tropotox No **Yes No
Escort, Tordon Gold No **Yes No
Tordon 2G No No No
Pool Chlorine >500 kgs* Yes (> 500 kgs) No

* This is the total amount of all flammable chemicals, pesticides and petrol, allowed at a location on a farm. For this purpose a farm must be at least four hectares.

** For these pesticides an Approved Handler is only required for aerial and certain (ie mechanised) ground spraying operations. All commercial spraying contractors are required to be Approved Handlers.

Please note: As a dairy farmer, some of the chemicals you currently use, such as Aerosol Spraymarkers, Bloateze, Bloatenz, BloCare and zinc and magnesium pasture dusts, are classified as Notified Toxic Substances (NOTS). These are generally mixtures of various substances and are currently being assessed by ERMA New Zealand. You will be advised of the requirements before the final transfer date in July 2006. If any of these substances are currently subject to Dangerous Goods or Toxic Substances Regulations this law will continue to apply.

Products which are Veterinary Medicines, such as

Drenches
Nilverm, Systamex and Valbazen
Pour-Ons
Eprinex, Cydectin and Genesis
Dips
Destruct and Vengeance

and other animal health products, are in the process of consultation for transfer to the HSNO Act. The transfer process will be completed by July 2005, and the requirements for these substances will be advised then.

What must I do now?

Not all the chemicals you use may be listed in this leaflet, but please be aware that all agrichemicals are controlled by the HSNO Act. For guidelines about handling and storing fuels such as petrol and diesel please see Compliance Guide - Petrol and Diesel (Farms).

You should:

  • check your chemicals
  • identify and obtain Test Certificates for Approved Handlers and/or Locations
  • contact a Test Certifier if you have any queries about what is required for a particular chemical.

Further information

You can contact a hazardous substance enforcement officer, normally Department of Labour Workplace Group (Occupational Safety and Health Service), in your district.

There are also regional consultants for hazardous substances who can offer independent advice. Refer to:

ERMA New Zealand
PO Box 131, Wellington
Tel: 04 916 2426 or 0800 376 234

Email: hsinfo@ermanz.govt.nz