Organisations that must notify of pesticide use
- Public authorities, including State government departments, local councils, county councils and electricity network State owned corporations must give the public notice that they intend to use pesticides in outdoor public places such as parks and ovals and in public places near sensitive places such as childcare centres and hospitals. From 1 July 2018 this will also include NSW universities.
- Property managers and strata managers who engage a pest management technician must give residents notice that they intend to apply pesticides in the common areas of multiple occupancy residential complexes.
- Pest management technicians must display a pesticide use notice while applying pesticides in common areas of multiple occupancy complexes and, if applying pesticides on properties adjacent to sensitive places, must notify the owner or manager of the sensitive place in advance.
The EPA regulates compulsory notification of pesticide use under Part 5 of the Pesticides Regulation 2017
Why there is a requirement to notify
Notification is based on the principle that people have a basic right to know when they may be affected by pesticide use, to make informed decisions about their contact with pesticides and reduce their exposure to pesticides if they wish. For example
- parents with young children may choose to delay a visit to the playground if they know pesticides have been applied that day
- people responsible for sensitive places can make informed decisions to reduce the risk of exposure by vulnerable people in their care
- residents aware that a pesticide application is about to take place in a common area can choose to close their windows or take in their washing
Notifying the community is now internationally recognised as best practice in pesticides management.
Voluntary agricultural notification
Voluntary notification principles apply for pesticide users on farms. Agricultural industry associations are encouraged to adopt statements of principles or codes of practice to help their members provide notice of their pesticide use. This recognises that different approaches to notification are needed in different situations, and that the most effective arrangements will be agreed to by neighbours through open and effective two-way communication.
Notification before spraying pesticides from aircraft
Pesticide control order Air-1 (PDF 83KB), prohibits the spraying of pesticides from aircraft within 150 metres of a residence, school, factory premises or other specified place without written consent of the occupier. Find out more about the responsibility to notify when aerial spraying.