Pesticides Stakeholder Group minutes: March 2026

Attendees and apologies

Chair

• Debbie Kessell, Scottish Government

Attendees

• Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
• Gillian Reay, Scottish Government
• Katie Viezens, Scottish Government
• Colin Palmer, CONFOR
• Dawn Teverson, LEAF
• John Murrie, Agrovista
• Carolyn Mitchell, James Hutton Institute
• David Michie, NFUS
• Henny Omosigho, HSE
• Simon Conway, Horticulture Crop Protection UK Ltd
• Alison Lees, James Hutton Institute
• Sarah Dutton, HSE
• Sacha White, ADHB
• Neal Evans, Voluntary Initiative
• Darrell Crothers, SEPA
• Cathy Cliff, Soil Association
• Mike Potts, HSE
• Tiago Metello, HSE
• Wayne Brough, HTA
• Celine Delabre, NatureScot
• Jenny Brunton, British Agricultural Bureau, Brussels
• Dave Bell, National Register of Sprayer Operators (NRoSO)
• Ian Ludgate, BALI

Items and actions

Welcome

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Matters arising

The minutes from PSG16 (held on 18th December 2025) had previously been agreed.

The updated action log was circulated to members prior to the meeting. Currently two outstanding actions:

• PSG14-04: AIC will follow up and confirm availability of the links to guidance in relation to what products can be used on cover crops. AIC were not on the call to provide an update. AIC have since sent this to us via email and will be shared with the group.
• PSG16-01: SG to share the Plant Health Conference (PHC) October 2025 workshop report with the group, once available, for feedback. The workshop aim was to support delivery of the UK Pesticide National Action Plan, particularly in relation to identifying knowledge and control gaps, including potential areas for research and innovation funding for future PHC projects. The report was shared in advance of the meeting and the group were welcomed to send their feedback to the secretariat.

Scottish Government Updates

A Scottish Government written update was provided to the group in advance of the meeting. 

There was discussion around emergency authorisations. It was highlighted that  emergency authorisations must meet strict criteria to be authorised and if they don’t meet the criteria they will not be authorised. This will continue to be the case following any dynamic alignment with the EU.

HSE offered their email address to British Agricultural Bureau (BAB) for questions on emergency authorisations.

Pesticide Enforcement Officer (Official Controls Regulation) Presentation

HSE gave a presentation to the group.

• Official Controls Regulation (OCR) was amended in 2017 to cover plant protection products (PPPs) and active substances. HSE as the competent authority must conduct controls  to verify compliance.
• Professional users must be registered but this does not mean it is only those registered who would be selected for inspection.
• Pesticide Enforcement Officers (PEOs) will conduct inspection visits to manufacturers, distributers, sellers and users of PPPs authorised for professional use to check compliance with duties under plant protection product law. The PEOs will bring operators back into compliance where breaches are identified and give advice on relevant general health and safety matters.
• PEOs gave presentations on examples they had seen on inspections including storage of PPPs and records.

Agrovista asked HSE if growers are notified in advance of inspections or are they unannounced and if busy periods are avoided.

HSE confirmed majority of visits are announced to ensure individuals are available for the inspections. The visits are planned out with busy times for growers.

Voluntary Initiative commented that new spray equipment doesn’t need to be tested for 5 years under the regulations. Equipment can already have mechanical failures which then aren’t picked up quick enough. Is there anything that could be changed on this.

HSE noted if a machine is not fit for purpose, no matter how old it is, they will prohibit the use of it. Most farms will be part of an assurance programme they'll do the testing once a year, so they are doing more than what the regulations are asking for, therefore tend not to come across this problem.

Voluntary initiative highlighted some farms are not part of assurance schemes so 5 years is a long time.

HSE were asked what proportion of Scottish inspections end up receiving enforcement notices. HSE will email this on to officials after the meetings.

ACTION: HSE to send over data from Scottish inspections.

Open discussion/Roundtable

No points were raised.

Date of next meeting

The date of the next meeting is 9th June 10:00-11:00. The invite will be issued to the group shortly.

The Minister noted this may be his last meeting with the election in May. He thanked everyone for their participation with the group and wished everyone all the best.