Pesticide Information Note: Buffer Zones

When applying pesticides, Buffer Zones have been used for a number of years to help protect water environments. Their use also helps producers avoid penalties from breaching cross compliance rules and by preventing pesticides entering watercourses, not only helping to protect water quality but also helping protect valuable active ingredients by showing their responsible and safe application.

Where a risk to aquatic life, and environments, has been identified when the pesticide has gone through the approval and authorisation process, a Buffer Zone will be required. Most products have a minimum buffer zone that must be observed when being applied next to a watercourse. This will be clearly shown on the label and can vary from 1m up to 30m.

Find out more by downloading our Pesticide Information Note: Buffer Zones

Other topics in this Pesticide Information note series include:

• Pesticide containers – cleaning and disposal
• Spray drift