1. Home
  2. Regulation
  3. Authorisations and compliance
  4. EASR authorisations
  5. Water activities
  6. Pollution control
  7. Land activities

Back to Land activities

  • Pesticide application near water

Pesticide application near water

Table of contents
Select a section to jump to:
Select a section to jump to:

This activity applies to the application of pesticides that are plant protection products (PPPs) and adjuvants, to plants where the application is within 1 metre of:

  1. any watercourse or loch (as measured from the top of the bank),
  2. any wetland; or
  3. transitional or coastal water (as measured from the shoreline),
    and where the plants being treated are not invasive non-native plant species.

Authorisation level

Registration

Fit and Proper Person tests

Fit and Proper Person tests apply to this activity. You will be asked in your application if you have any relevant convictions held by you or any other relevant person.

Read more about Fit and Proper Person tests

Fees and charges

An application fee applies to the application of a new authorisation for this activity.

Read our charging information for further information on application and annual activity fees.

Information on the application fees to transfer, vary or surrender a registration that authorises this activity, is in our charging information.

Standard conditions

Your registration application will only be granted if you can confirm you are able to comply with the standard conditions set out below.

If you carry out an activity under a Registration authorisation you must comply with the standard conditions. It is an offence if you do not comply with the conditions.

SEPA will not authorise this activity if it poses an unacceptable risk to the environment.

  1. Pesticides and adjuvants must:

    1. not enter the water environment,
    2. be approved for aquatic use under the Plant Protection Products Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009,
    3. be applied in accordance with the terms and instructions of the approval under Plant Protection Products Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009,
    4. not be applied during rainfall; and
    5. not be applied when it is windy such that the pesticide or adjuvant may enter the water environment.

  2. Pesticide sprayers and other sprayer devices used to apply pesticides and adjuvants must be:

    1. maintained so that they operate in good working order,
    2. fitted with a device to prevent back siphoning, if used to abstract water directly from any watercourse or loch; and
    3. calibrated to accurately deliver the required application rate.

  3. The following operations must not be undertaken within 10 metres of, any watercourse or loch (as measured from the top of the bank); wetland; transitional water or coastal water (as measured from the shoreline); or opening into a surface water drainage system:

    1. the preparation of pesticide for application,
    2. the filling of pesticide application equipment,
    3. the cleaning or maintenance of pesticide sprayers or other devices used to apply pesticides; or
    4. the cleaning of any personal protection equipment. 

How to apply

In this section you can find out how to apply for a new authorisation and how to apply for a variation, transfer and surrender of an existing authorisation.

New applications

You can apply for a new registration for this activity using our digital application service.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

Step 2: Provide supporting information

For a new registration, you will also need to provide the following supporting information:

  • Location plan(s)

Step 3: Submit using our digital application service

You can submit your completed application using our digital application service.

Make an application for a new authorisation

You can apply to vary an existing registration for this activity. Please note, this is the same activity form as applying for a new registration or transferring an existing one.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

  • R-WAT-B2 - Application of pesticides that are Plant Protection Products (PPPs) and adjuvants near water

Step 2: Submit your application for a variation

Make an application to vary an authorisation

You can apply to transfer an existing registration for this activity. Please note, this is the same activity form as applying for a new registration or varying an existing one.

Step 1: Download your activity form

You will need to download and complete the following activity form. The completed form will be submitted as part of your application:

  • R-WAT-B2 - Application of pesticides that are Plant Protection Products (PPPs) and adjuvants near water

Step 2: Submit your application

Read Transfer an existing authorisation to find out how to submit your application for a transfer.

To apply to surrender an existing registration that authorises this activity, read Surrender an existing authorisation

Help and guidance

You might also need