Keeping Records - Legal Requirements for Agricultural Chemical Use.

The prescribed records must be made and kept for the use of the following types of chemicals:

• Schedule 7 poisons (dangerous poisons) that are agricultural chemicals
• Products containing atrazine Products containing metham sodium
• Ester formulations of 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, MCPA and triclopyr.

All uses of restricted chemicals need to be recorded, not just applications to crops. For example an application of a restricted herbicide in a non crop area must be recorded.
The prescribed records that must be made and kept are as follows:

1. Name and address of chemical supplier
2. Name and quantity of chemical product
3. Batch number, and where applicable expiry date of the chemical product
4. Any specific written precautions received with the chemical product in addition to the label
5. Withholding period
6. Address or location of treated area
7. Type of vegetation in the treated area
8. Name of pest or disease to be controlled or eradicated
9. Weather conditions at time of application including temperature, wind direction, and speed
10. Date and time of application
11. Rate of application
12. Method of application
13. Name and address of person applying the chemical, or if applicable the person supervising the application of the chemical
14. Any permit issued by DPI/DSE or the APVMA.

Explanatory Notes:

1. Name and address of chemical supplier: Your tax invoices can be used to record the chemical supplier details, provided each chemical application can be linked to the corresponding invoice.
2. Name and quantity of chemical used: The full name of the product should be recorded to avoid confusion. Many products on the market can have similar names but different concentrations, approved uses and rates
3. Batch No. and Expiry date: The batch number is found on the container. It identifies what manufacturing batch the chemical in your drum came from.
4. Specific written precautions in addition to the label: This is any other written information you received not including permits or licences eg written advice your supplier or agronomist gave you.
5. Withhold Period: Recording the withholding period for your situation ensures you check this very important point. Harvesting or giving livestock access to crops before the withholding period has expired can lead to produce or livestock exceeding the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL).
6. Address or location of treated area: The description must be sufficient to enable the treated area to be identified by a person not familiar with the location. The more specific the better. Maps, diagrams or paddock numbers
   are good ways of recording this information.
7. Type of vegetation in the treated area: This is sometimes referred to as the host. Eg. Pasture, wheat crop, roadway etc.
8. Pest to be controlled: This is the targeted organism such as the specific type of weed(s) or types of insect(s) to be controlled. Simply recording 'weeds' or 'insects' is not specific enough.
9. Weather details: These details need to be recorded accurately. A description of 'warm day with light winds' is not precise enough. A description such as: temp. 20°C, wind 4-8kph from the NW is required and is also more useful if you need to review the effectiveness of your chemical use at a later date. Measuring devices such as thermometers and automatic weather stations can be useful. The weather conditions recorded should be the conditions at the time and place of application; not just the general regional conditions that day.
10. Date and time of application: The actual time of application, not just the date must be recorded.
11. Rate of application: The rate should be written in the same terms as it is on the label. This is often the amount of chemical product used (before mixing) per unit area eg 700 mL/Ha.
12. Application method: This is the type of equipment used to apply the chemical eg. Boom, knapsack mister etc. If different equipment with different outputs is used during the same job this should be noted on your record.
13. Name & address of applicator: If applicable also add the person supervising the application of the chemical. Supervision is defined as being within sight and sound of the applicator.
14. DPI or APVMA permit: Any permit issued by the APVMA or the Department Primary Industries. This does not include ACUP.

Commercial Operators
People who apply agricultural chemicals for a fee or reward such as commercial ground operators and aerial applicators, must keep the prescribed records for all agricultural chemical product applications they undertake, not just the applications of restricted chemical products.
They are also required to keep the following extra details and certify (sign) and date each record.
To certify records, the following words must be used
"I certify that this is a true and accurate record of agricultural spraying".

1. Name and address of the applicator at the time of spraying, spreading or dispersing
2. Name and address of the person for whom the spraying spreading or dispersing was carried out
3. Identification marks of the spraying equipment and the registration number of any vehicle from which the spraying, spreading or dispersing was carried out or in which the spraying equipment was transported.

Why Keep Records?
Making and keeping records of chemical use is a means of demonstrating your good agricultural practice. Quality assurance programs often require detailed accurate records of chemical use as do some export markets.
Records help to ensure things such as the WHP, application rate and wind speed are checked prior to application.
Records are also used as a reference point to assess previous results and plan future activities such as resistance management.
The record keeping requirements outlined in this brochure are required by law in Victoria.