PIORiN inspection – what can the inspector check?
The basic PIORiN control on a farm is aimed at supervising the conditions of use and storage of plant protection products. Inspectors check whether the farmer has the necessary authorizations, functional equipment and whether he uses and stores plant protection products in accordance with the law.
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Is a certificate from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station required to sell rapeseed?
As PIORiN reserves, the inspection does not have to be announced in advance . To carry it out, the presence of an inspected farmer or an authorized person is required on site. The inspector initiates the inspection after presenting his official ID and authorization to carry out the inspection.
PIORiN informs that inspectors are authorized to:
- enter all land and all premises , means of transport and facilities that concern the controlled scope indicated in the authorization and perform inspections;
- inspection of documents , requesting written or oral information, explanations and access to all data , including those kept in electronic form, related to the subject of the inspection;
- free collection , upon receipt, of samples of plants, plant products or objects, plant protection products or seed material in the amount necessary to perform tests;
- securing physical evidence;
- examining the course of specific activities.
After the inspection, read the report, which contains a description of the inspection results and any irregularities, along with post-inspection recommendations. Demonstrating irregularities may also lead to the imposition of sanctions. Any objections to the protocol may be reported within 7 days of its signing by the inspector.
Documentation for PIORiN – the most important points
The most important documents that may be required to be presented during an inspection include a current certificate of completion of training in the use of plant protection products . Such training, ending with an exam, is most often conducted by local Agricultural Advisory Centers. Authorizations must be renewed every 5 years .
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When to report rapeseed and wheat to the Integrated Production system?
During the inspection, it should be confirmed that the sprayer used for plant protection treatments is technically efficient and calibrated. For this purpose, a current technical inspection protocol is presented, which is repeated every 3 years . If the sprayer is new, the purchase invoice must be presented and it must be subjected to technical inspection 5 years after purchase .
In order to demonstrate that empty packaging of used plant protection products was safely removed from the farm, a certificate of return of empty packaging of plant protection products must be presented. The return form completed by the farmer is stamped by the store to which we return the packaging. It does not have to be the same store where the plant protection products were purchased.
One of the most important documents checked during PIORiN inspections is the register of plant protection products used , more about which below. The inspector may also check the legality of the sources of plant protection products and ask to provide proof of purchase in the form of invoices or receipts.
Register of plant protection treatments – what to remember?
The farmer must keep documentation of the plant protection treatments performed and keep it for three years .
The register must include information on the date of the treatment, the designation of the plot and its area, the plant species sprayed, the sprayed area, the name and dose of the protection agent used, and the reason for the treatment.
Please remember that only plant protection products registered in Poland are allowed to be used, only in accordance with the label recommendations. Plant protection products must not be used on pests or crops not included in the label . The specified maximum doses must also not be exceeded. Pursuant to this requirement, spraying e.g. winter triticale plantations with a herbicide registered only for winter wheat is treated as a violation.
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Applications for subsidies for seed material only until August 14
A distinction should also be made between the plot area and the area on which the plant protection product is used. The regulations require maintaining a distance of 20 m from apiaries, 3 m from public roads, 3 m (orchard sprayers) or 1 m (field sprayers) from reservoirs, watercourses and areas not used for agriculture. Therefore, when performing the treatment and later recording it in fields that, for example, border a watercourse, remember to reduce the sprayed area by an appropriate distance .
We must not forget about the applicable requirements of integrated plant protection , which give priority to non-chemical methods and allow chemical treatments only after exceeding the thresholds of economic harmfulness of pests. We should be able to properly justify the need to apply each of the measures.
Checking equipment
The information provided by PIORiN states that during the inspection, the inspector may also check where the working liquid is prepared, how the farmer deals with its remains, and where and how the equipment used for the application of pesticides is cleaned.
The inspector can visually assess the technical condition of the sprayer. In addition, as mentioned earlier, proof of calibration and current technical tests of the sprayers must be provided. It is worth adding that the inspection may also include seed treaters.
Storing protective equipment in accordance with PIORiN requirements
During the visit, the PIORiN inspector may check whether plant protection products on the farm are stored in accordance with the requirements.
Preparations must be stored in original packaging and in conditions specified in the label, in a way that prevents contact with food and feed. It is important to prevent access to funds by unauthorized persons, children and animals.
Preparations used on a regular basis should be secured, e.g. in an appropriately marked, locked cabinet or box. On large farms with large supplies of pesticides, a separate warehouse should be allocated.
