Best Practice Guidance Note: Hard Surface Herbicide Application
The EU Water Framework Directive and the Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations
2012, require all pesticide users to protect water quality by minimising the risk of water contamination
from pesticides. On hard surfaces herbicides have to applied in a targeted fashion and not blanket
sprayed, to avoid run-off of product into urban drainage systems.
Regulatory Update 42/2011, issued by the Health and Safety Executive on 17th November 2011, made
it a legal requirement for all herbicide application on hard, non-porous surfaces, to be targeted
according to their specific mode of action.
All herbicides approved for use on hard, non-porous surfaces contain ‘directions for use’ wording on
the label regarding targeted application, stating where the product can be applied. Always check the
product label for the specific wording regarding targeted application on hard surfaces.
What is a hard surface?
The Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) official definition of a hard surface is ‘
Any man made
impermeable surface, such as concrete or asphalt and including railway ballast, that is not intended to
bear vegetation.’
Although railway ballast is classified as a hard surface, Regulatory Update 42/2011 is not applicable to
products that are specifically authorised only for use on railway ballast.
Hard Surface Application
There are three mode of action categories specified in Regulatory Update 42/2011:
1) Products which act only by contact or systemic action via foliar application
2) Products which act only in a residual fashion (There are currently no products authorised for use on
hard surfaces which act only in a residual fashion)
3) Products which contain more than one active substance, at least one of which acts by foliar and at
least one acts in a residual fashion.
The regulatory update demands that the following wording should be included on the product label for
the two cases above where products are authorised:
Products which act only by contact or systemic action via foliar
application
Ensure spraying takes place only when weeds are actively growing
(normally March to October) and is
confined only to visible weeds,
including those in the 30cm swath covering the kerb edge and road
gulley –
do not overspray drains.
Source: CRD
Products which contain more than one active substance, at least one
of which acts by foliar and at least one acts in a residual fashion
Ensure spraying takes place only when weeds are actively growing
(normally March to October) and
is confined only to visible weeds,
areas of potential weed growth (e.g. gaps between paving stones,
kerb edges and road gulleys) and/or a 30cm swath covering the
kerb edge and road gulley –
do not overspray drains.”
Reviewed: March 2014
Source: CRD
Use pesticides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.