Testing of plant protection equipment in Germany Introduction Observance of basic requirements by legal regulations High suitability of sprayers by voluntary testing European testing of sprayers with mutual recognition among test stations Precise and reliable function of sprayers by periodical testing Harmonization of technical regulations by EN / ISO standards Concluding remarks H. Ganzelmeier and G. F. Backhaus 1
Application of Plant Protection Products Then PPT 9-01 2
and now Precise sprayer adjustment with electronic controls and GPS 3
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Sensor controlled air assisted sprayer - Target Spray - PPT 12-01 5
Plant protection equipment - survey of the state of the art - Sprayers and air assisted sprayers for field crops 3-point hitch mounted trailed self propelled line spraying among all: air assisted total available sprayer types 84 (36%) 27 (12%) 93 (40%) 24 (11%) 6 (1%) 17 (8%) tank (l) 200-1500 600-5000 600-7000 300-5000 100-1000 600-5000 spray boom (m) 7-24 8-36 6-45 4,5-48 4-12reihig 12-36 pump (l/min) 58-240 94-2x225 94-545 138-1400 16-225 100-344 tech. rest volume (% of tank capacity) 1,2-2,6 1,9-3,0 1,2-3,0 0,6-3,0 1,2-3,0 1,1-3,0 Last update August 2005 PPT 21-01 6
Pre-conditions for proper and sustainable plant protection High quality plant protection products authorisation Perfectly and reliably operating plant protection equipment Expert users: Observing principles Good Professional Practice PPT 293-02 7
Testing of plant protection equipment in Germany Observance of basic requirements by legal regulations 8
The declaration procedure guarantees, that new plant protection equipment complies with the legal requirements. To this end General requirements and declaration Evaluation of documents Technical examination documents must be submitted for assessment and plant protection equipment may have to be made available for testing. BBA - Declaration Procedure, obligatory When in doubt: Technical examination (BBA) BBA Application General Requirements Techniques Division Plant protection equipment must comply with following requirements: Pendulum adjustments 1. They must function reliably. 2. They must be able to be used properly and for the purpose intended. The intended purpose is stated in the instructions for use. Evaluation of documents (BBA) Electronic regulation devices Manufacturer: 3. They must dose and apply products precisely. 4. When applied properly and for the purpose intended, the plant protection product must be satisfactorily deposited Agitation the targeted systems object. Requirements no 5. They must be easily refillable. 6. They must be protected aigainst Referee: Booms dirt in met such a and way thatnozzles their function is not impaired. Telephone: 7. The line up to which the tank may be filled must be clearly visible. 8. There must be a sufficient safety margin between nominal and total volume of the tanks to be filled. Declaration Date before plant protection equipment marketed for the first tim Plant Protection yes Act in connection with 6 of Regulatory Or I/we declare as Manufacturer Distributor hat the equipment type Designation: Entry in the Plant Protection Equipment List Equipment design: PPE-type not marketable PPT 335-02 9
Testing of plant protection equipment in Germany High suitability of sprayers by voluntary testing 10
The BBA - evaluation guarantees that new plant protection equipment complies with the legal requirements and is suitable for its intended use. Plant protection equipment must be made available for testing and technical measuring and extensive use in practice is necessary. BBA - Test for approval, voluntary General Requirements Submitted to General the expert committee requirements 1. They must function reliably. on equipment Pendulum adjustments and The intended purpose is stated in the instructions for use. additional 3. They must dose Electronic and apply products regulators precisely. requirements Additional Requirements Technical testing (BBA) Testing in practice (off. Plant Prot. Organ.) Plant protection equipment must comply with following requirements: 2. They must be able to be used properly and for the purpose intended. 4. When applied properly and for the purpose intended, the plant protection product must be satisfactorily deposited the targeted object. 5. They must be easily refillable. Agitation systems no 6. They must λ the be protected equipment aigainst must allow dirt in crop such friendly a way application Requirements that their function is not impaired. λ constancy of cross 7. The line up to which the tank Booms distribution: deviations ± 15 % (VK 7 %) may be filled met must and be clearly nozzles visible. 8. There must be a sufficient safety margin between nominal and total volume λ tractor tracks must be adjustable of the tanks to be filled. λ ground clearance 350 mm λ coating / varnish must not come offyes λ the swelling motion of the fluid must not impair driving safety and spray quality λ movements of the boom must be very slight λ... Technical Testing testing practice (BBA) (PSD*) BBA - approval A *) Plant protection service test centres for testing in practice Refusal BIOLOGISCHE BUNDESANSTALT FÜR LAND- UND FORSTWIRTSC BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND B B Pflanzenschutzmittel- Verzeichnis Teil 6 2001 / 2002 Anerkannte Pflanzenschutzgeräte PPT 353-03 11
High suitability of sprayers by voluntary testing Drift reducing plant protection equipment Classification in 50 % / 75 % and 90 % drift reducing classes and entry in the register of loss reducing equipment Liquid Nozzle body Air Air Injector PPT 305-02 12
Directions for use for the protection of surface water Measures to be fulfilled: Compliance of buffer zones (dependent on the product) Flexible buffer zones are possible through Consideration of application conditions: Use of drift reducing sprayers Size of running water Riparian vegetation PPT 427-03 13
Testing of plant protection equipment in Germany European testing of sprayers with mutual recognition among test stations 14
CH-8356 Tänikon D-I-A-S R-C-B a - mutual recognition of testing activity; b - creation of a network of skilled laboratories; c - development of common activities; associate member a - reduce costs of testing activities and other common activities; b - optimise investments in testing implements; c - offer the manufacturer the possibility to obtain a full international certification with one test; d - give the farmers an effective support for the choice of machinery and equipment and a guarantee to use machines conceived to be perfectly suitable for their needs; PPT 32-01 15
The testing of new plant protection equipment is harmonised throughout Europe, mutual acceptance of testing is guaranteed within the test centres of the European Network for Testing of Agricultural Machines - ENTAM. One test- acceptance throughout Europe λ plant protection equipment must be made available for testing λ technical measuring is necessary λ a European test report (Engl./French) is compiled. Technical Instructions Technical testing ENTAM testing procedure, voluntary No Technical testing testing in ENTAM practice (BBA) testing institute Pendulum adjustment Electronic regulators Agitation systems Technical Booms and nozzles Instructions met no No ENTAM report Testing in practice yes Co-ordination with ENTAM members PPT 354-03 16
Testing of plant protection equipment in Germany Precise and reliable function of sprayers by periodical testing (obligatory at least once every 2 years) 17
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Inspection of field sprayers Officially Approved Test Station for the Inspection of Field Sprayers Approval-No.: Plant Protection Office Hannover PPT 40-01 19
Inspection of air-assisted sprayers PPT 39-01 20
Technical defects of inspected field sprayers Germany 2001 AGITATOR DRIVE, P,T,O, FILTERS PUMP; VOLUME FLOW ANTI-DRIP VALVE PRESSURE GAUGE SPRAY LIQUID TANK CONTROLS PIPES AND TUBES SPRAY BOOM CROSS DISTRIBUTION Evaluation of 50538 sprayers 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Frequence in % PPT 343-03 21
Spise-Workshop 27./29. April 2004 BBA Braunschweig -SPISE- Standardized Procedure for the Inspection of Sprayers in Europe 22
Portugal April 2004: First European Workshop on Standardized Procedure for the Inspection of Sprayers in Europe -SPISE- Ireland Belgium Luxembourg 2005 Spain UK France Denmark 2006 Netherlands Norway Sweden Germany Switzerland Italy Poland Finland Estonia Latvia Czech Rep. Slovakia Austria 2005 Hungary Romania Slovenia Croatia Lithuania Greece Field crop sprayers Bulgaria year Attending Not attending No inspection Experimental state/ region specific Voluntary Mandatory only in some regions Mandatory Mandatory from No information Cyprus, Malta: PPT 541-04
Portugal Ireland Belgium Luxembourg First European Workshop on Standardized Procedure for the Inspection of Sprayers in Europe -SPISE- Spain UK Netherlands Denmark Switzerland France Norway Sweden Germany Italy Poland Austria Hungary Croatia Finland Slovenia Estonia Latvia Lithuania Czech Rep. Slovakia Romania Bulgaria Greece Field crop sprayers Country Attending Not attending Number of sprayer in use Number of sprayer inspected in 2003 No information Number of sprayer in use Number of sprayer inspected in 2003 Belgium 21500 33% Germany 135000 47% Italy 200000 2% Lithuania 8000 1% Netherlands 13000 58% Norway 12000 5% Poland 302000 12% Slovenia 30000 14% Spain 80000 0% Sweden 19000 16% UK 35000 13% Cyprus, Malta: PPT 542-04
Testing of plant protection equipment in Germany Harmonization of technical regulations by EN / ISO standards 25
Spraying equipment standards General ISO 4287 ISO 4288 ISO 5681 ISO 10627-1/-2 ISO 13441-1/-2 ISO 22368-1/-2/-3 Safety / Environment EN 907 ISO 4254-6 EN ISO 4254-6 EN 12761-1/-2/-3 EN 13790-1/-2 Nozzles / Filters ISO 4102 ISO 5682-1 ISO 6686 ISO 8169 ISO 10625 ISO 10626 ISO 14710 ISO 19732 Distribution / Drift ISO 5682-2 ISO 5682-3 ISO 11783-1/-13 ISO 12057 ISO 22369-1/-2 ISO 22522 ISO 22866 Boom / Blower ISO 9898 ISO 14131 ISO 22763 Tank ISO 9357 ISO 13440 ISO 21278 Portable equipment ISO 19932-1/-2 Granules applicator ISO 8524 26
Conclusions (1) The state of technological development in plant protection equipment has reached a high level. The spraying quality of modern plant protection equipment is very high and extremely effective. 27
Conclusions (1) The state of technological development in plant protection equipment has reached a high level. The spraying quality of modern plant protection equipment is very high and they are extremely effective. Legal regulations for new sprayers are in force in Germany (since 1988). Accordingly, plant protection equipment is evaluated on the basis of documents to be submitted. When results are positive the equipment is registered in the plant protection equipment list. Only then may plant protection equipment be put on the market. 28
Conclusions (1) The state of technological development in plant protection equipment has reached a high level. The spraying quality of modern plant protection equipment is very high and they are extremely effective. Legal regulations for new sprayers which are in force in Germany (since 1988). Accordingly, plant protection equipment is evaluated on the basis of documents to be submitted. When results are positive the equipment is registered in the plant protection equipment list. Only then may plant protection equipment be put on the market in Germany. The European Commission intends to introduce such a certification procedure to all EU-Member-States in the near future. 29
Conclusions (1) The state of technological development in plant protection equipment has reached a high level. The spraying quality of modern plant protection equipment is very high and they are extremely effective. A wide range of accessories are available which contributes to the improvement of the quality of work and to relieving the strain on the driver. Legal regulations for new sprayers which guarantee a minimum performance (requirements) are still in force in Germany (since 1988). Accordingly, plant protection equipment is evaluated on the basis of documents to be submitted. If the results are positive the equipment is registered in the plant protection equipment list. Only then may plant protection equipment be put on the market in Germany. The European Commission intends to introduce such a certification procedure to all EU-Member-States in the near future. Voluntary testing of new sprayers guarranties suitability. This includes technical measurements and extensive field testing. In case of positive results the plant protection equipment is approved by the BBA and a test report is published. 30
Conclusions (2) Drift reducing sprayers are the key factor for reducing minimum distances to surface waters and biotopes. Therefore plant protection equipment is also tested by the BBA regarding drift reduction (wind tunnel, field testing). At present 257 pieces of approved drift-reduced plant protection equipment (50, 75, 90, 99 %) are available. 31
Conclusions (2) Drift reducing sprayers are the key factor for reducing minimum distances to surface waters and biotopes. Therefore plant protection equipment is also tested by the BBA regarding drift reduction (wind tunnel, field testing). At present 257 pieces of approved drift-reduced plant protection equipment (50, 75, 90, 99 %) are available. A collaboration of European testing authorities is realised by ENTAM on the basis of voluntary agreements. The BBA is responsible for ENTAM tests of sprayers. Goal: Once tested Europe-wide recognition. Test stations and manufacturers welcome this co-operation. 32
Conclusions (2) Drift reducing sprayers are the key factor for reducing minimum distances to surface waters and biotopes. Therefore plant protection equipment is also tested by the BBA regarding drift reduction (wind tunnel, field testing). At present 257 pieces of approved drift-reduced plant protection equipment (50, 75, 90, 99 %) are available. A collaboration of European testing authorities is realised by ENTAM on the basis of voluntary agreements. The BBA/FA is responsible for ENTAM tests of sprayers. Goal: Once tested Europe-wide recognition. Test stations and manufacturers welcome this co-operation. A permanently precise and reliable function of sprayers can only be ensured by periodic inspections of plant protection equipment. In Germany an obligatory inspection for field sprayers and air assisted sprayers is established. 33
Conclusions (3) Initiatives about the Standardised Procedure for Inspection of Sprayers in Europe (SPISE) showed that - most European countries started to inspect sprayers - quality and extend has to be harmonized - equivalent results and mutual recognition are aimed at. 34
Conclusions (3) An initial European Workshop about the Standardised Procedure for Inspection of Sprayers in Europe (SPISE) was held in Braunschweig in April 2004 which goes to show that - most European countries started to inspect sprayers - quality and extend differs significantly - equivalent results and mutual recognition are aimed at. European and international standardisation made great progress in the last years. The standards are helpful for manufacturers, testing authorities and farmers in order to save resources, facilitate mutual recognitions of tests and to make a wider range of tested machinery/equipment available. 35
Thank you very much for your attention Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry 36