If you supply pesticides or biocides you must check that the pesticides or biocides you sell have been approved in the UK and that your products are labelled correctly. You may need to provide a safety data sheet (SDS) for your customers.
Apply to place pesticides and biocides on the market
Apply to the registration authority
Before you place a new pesticide or biocide product on the market, you must apply to the relevant registration authority for approval.
If you find out about adverse effects of the pesticide or biocide on human health or the environment you must inform the registration authority as soon as possible.
Approval of pesticides and biocides
Provide information on biocidal products
If you place a biocidal product on the market for the first time, you must provide certain information to the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS).
HSE: NPIS and the Biocidal Products Regulations
Provide information for customers
Meet marketing and selling requirements
If you market or sell pesticides or biocides you must ensure that all packaging, labelling and advertising meets the requirements in the product’s authorisation. In some cases, it must also meet the requirements of the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (CHIP).
HSE: CHIP guidance
Use hazard warning labels and safety data sheets
If you supply pesticides or biocides you may need to use a hazard warning label or provide a SDS. This is now a requirement of the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulation.
For more information, see our guidance on chemical labelling and information.
Follow the Yellow Code for pesticide suppliers
If you sell, supply, or store to sell, plant protection products you should follow the ‘Code of Practice for Suppliers of Pesticides to Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry’ (the Yellow Code). This code of practice includes guidance on storage, training requirements, transport, waste disposal and how to deal with spills.
Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD): The Yellow Code - Code of Practice for suppliers of pesticides to agriculture, horticulture and forestry (Adobe PDF - 915KB)
Further information
If you produce pesticides or biocides, see our guidance for chemical manufacturers.
For information on storing pesticides and biocides see our guidance on chemical storage.
In this guideline:
What are pesticides and biocides?
What do pesticide and biocide suppliers need to do?
What do pesticide and biocide users need to do?
Approval of pesticides and biocides
Disposing of pesticides and biocides
How to deal with incidents involving pesticides and biocides
Pesticides and biocides further information
Pesticides and biocides legislation
