The Waikato Regional Council is warning agrichemical contractors operating without certification they are in breach of rules and pose a potential risk to the community.

They have received a complaint from the public that landowners are not notifying neighbours prior to agrichemical spraying which has ended up drifting on to other people's property.

A complaint has been received by the WRC concerning agrichemical contractors failing to notify surrounding properties. Photo: File.

Neighbours are required to be notified before spraying so they know what is being used and to allow appropriate precautions to be taken, such as disconnecting roof rainwater collection systems.

WRC incident response team leader Derek Hartley says the risk to people's health, property and livelihood increases when people are not notified ahead of spraying operations.

'As we have looked into these complaints, we have also found that some contractors are not properly trained or qualified to spray agrichemicals.

'We have begun contacting contractors in the Waikato to establish what qualifications they hold.”

Derek says the WRC is working hard to educate landowners and contractors of their obligations is reminding people of the consequences of ignoring the rules.

The regional council requires every contractor or contractor employee performing land-based agrichemical spraying to hold a registered chemical applicator (RCA) certification or to be under on-site supervision of a person who is an RCA.

A contractor is defined under the rules as being any person or organisation who applies agrichemicals for hire or reward.

They are also not allowed to be an employee of the owner, occupier or manager of that land, for example, a farm worker spraying agrichemicals at his usual place of employment.

'Landowners are responsible for notifying their neighbours regarding spray operations.

'They are also responsible for ensuring contractors being brought in to do the work are suitably qualified – failing to do so can leave them open to liability for any breaches of the regional rules.”

For more information about the agrichemical application rules visit www.waikatoregion.govt.nz or call 0800 800 401.