Inspection of plant protection application equipment
Application equipment to be inspected
- Horizontal boom sprayers with a boom of > 3 m
- Sprayers for bush and tree crops (foggers)
- Pesticide application equipment in greenhouses with
- a tank of ≥ 25 l or
- working pressure ≥ 15 bar or
- boom > 3 m
- Application equipment mounted on combine-harvesters
- Application equipment mounted on trains or aircraft
Application equipment exempted from inspection obligation
- Knapsack sprayers and other portable equipment
- Seed treatment equipment
- Equipment in forest harvesters for the prevention of root rot
- Cold/thermal atomisers
- Wiping equipment
How often must application equipment be inspected?
After 2020, have your application equipment inspected at three-year intervals.
Where should you have your application equipment inspected?
In Finland, application equipment inspections are performed by approximately 60 application equipment inspectors. The inspectors are authorised by Tukes.
When the time to test your application equipment approaches, contact an application equipment inspector operating in your area. The inspectors arrange common inspection events and make visits to farms to inspect application equipment.
What does an application equipment inspector do?
The inspector goes through all application equipment parts and checks the functionality of the equipment.
The inspector checks that
- the application equipment does not leak
- the pump works
- the pressure remains stable
- mixture in the tank is sufficient
- filters are in good condition
- the spray is evenly spread.
The inspector draws up a report on the application equipment inspection and gives a copy of it to the owner of the application equipment. The inspector marks an approved application equipment with a label, which shows the date of validity of the inspection.
If the application equipment does not pass the inspection, the owner of the equipment repairs the faults and has the equipment reinspected.
Getting prepared for application equipment inspection
- Have the application equipment to be inspected and its instructions for use readily available.
- Wash the application equipment to ensure that the inspector is not exposed to plant protection product residues and that the results of the inspection are reliable.
- If the inspector comes to visit your farm, consider what would be a suitable place for the inspection. Ensure that washing or rinsing waters do not pollute surrounding waters.
- Have all faults you are aware of fixed before the inspection.
- Protect the potential power transmission shaft. Check that the guards of the shaft, tractor and application equipment are intact and all parts are in place, including the chain that prevents the guard from revolving.
- Fill the application equipment tank half-way.
New application equipment
New application equipment must be tested within five years of the purchase date of the equipment.
