Local authorities manage a variety of
contracts and activities which require pesticides to be used. A common complaint
heard about managers with responsibility for these contracts is that they do not
know enough about pesticides.
Managers
are preparing and managing contracts which can specify which chemicals are to be
used, with what frequency and under what conditions. In many cases the
specifications make little technical sense and may also be illegal. There are
many tales of contracts specifying the use of inappropriate chemicals such as
"residual glyphosate based herbicides" (glyphosate has no residual
activity), "imazapyr to kill weeds round tree bases" (imazapyr is root
absorbed and can kill trees); inappropriate equipment such as specifying ULV
application where no appropriate formulation exists; wasteful and polluting
practices such as blanket spraying; practically unattainable objectives and
more.
In a move
to improve the situation, the British Agrochemical Standards Inspection Scheme
(BASIS) has established a short three day course aimed at managers involved in
the selection and use of amenity pesticides. The syllabus aims to provide an
understanding of pesticides regulation, how pesticides work, application
techniques, risk assessment, and setting realistic pest control objectives.
Students will also learn where to obtain more information and to identify
further training needs.
Some
mention is made in the syllabus about integrated pest control or management
strategies, but ostensibly this is a course about managing pesticides.
Nevertheless there is no doubt that this is an important first step in
controlling and in the longer term limiting the use of chemical pesticides.
So far five courses have run with six more
planned by early 1996, and more trainers and training centres are in the process
of being accredited.
Further information: BASIS, 2 St. John Street, Ashbourne Derbyshire DE6 1GH, UK, Tel, 01335 343945.
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 30,
December 1995, page 18]