21544 version 2

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Demonstrate knowledge of the environmental aspects of agrichemical use

Level / 3
Credits / 6

PurposeThis unit standard is for people involved with the handling, storage, supply, transfer, and/or manufacture of agrichemicals.

People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: the application of the Resource Management Act 1991, and the HSNO Act 1996 for the use of agrichemicals; potential contamination of surface and groundwater by agrichemicals, and prevention measures; and the potential for damage by off-target spray drift by agrichemicals.

Subfield / Agriculture
Domain / Agrichemical Supply
Status / Registered
Status date / 27 May 2005
Date version published / 22 August 2008
Planned review date / 31 December 2010
Entry information / Open.
Replacement information / This unit standard replaced unit standard 10898.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and teaching professional in the same field from another provider.
Standard setting body (SSB) / Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0052

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

1Legislation and regulations relevant to this unit standard include but are not limited to –

Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996;

Hazardous Substances (Classes 1 to 5 Controls) Regulations 2001;

Hazardous Substances (Disposal) Regulations 2001;

Hazardous Substances (Classes 6, 8, and 9 Controls) Regulations 2001;

Hazardous Substances (Tracking) Regulations 2001;

Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;

Health Act 1956;

Resource Management Act 1991, and Territorial Local Authority Regional Plans relevant to local authority area of jurisdiction;

Drinking-Water Standards for New Zealand 2005, available from

2The New Zealand Standard applicable to this unit standard is NZS 8409:2004 Management of Agrichemicals, available from

3Definitions

agrichemical – any substance, whether inorganic or organic, man-made or naturally occurring, modified or in its original state, that is used in any agriculture, horticulture or related activity, to eradicate, modify or control flora and fauna. It includes agricultural compounds, and for the purposes of agrichemical supply, includes fertilisers, vertebrate pest control products, and oral nutrition products;

Environmental Exposure Limits (EELs) – the maximum concentration of an ecotoxic substance in an environmental medium that will present a low risk of adverse effects to organisms in non-target areas. Concentrations are set according to the Hazardous Substances (Classes 6, 8, and 9 Controls) Regulations 2001.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Describe the application of the Resource Management Act 1991, and the HSNO Act 1996 for the use of agrichemicals.

Performance criteria

1.1The Resource Management Act 1991 is described in terms of specific local requirements.

Rangedischarges to – air, land, water;

territorial local authorities, local regional management plans, consultation and notification requirements.

1.2The Resource Management Act 1991, and the HSNO Act 1996 are described in terms of the practical handling requirements when using agrichemicals.

Rangerinsing containers, disposal of concentrate and spray mix, tracking requirements, storage, contract disposal, land application, land use, run-off.

Element 2

Describe potential contamination of surface and groundwater by agrichemicals, and prevention measures.

Rangesurface and groundwater sources – streams, aquifers, bores, groundwater flow, buffer zones.

Performance criteria

2.1The potential for surface and groundwater contamination by agrichemicals is described in accordance with legislative requirements.

Rangelegislation – Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, Resource Management Act 1991; Health Act 1956, Drinking-Water Standards for New Zealand 2005.

2.2The potential for surface and groundwater contamination by agrichemicals is described in accordance with EELs.

2.3Prevention of surface and groundwater contamination by agrichemicals is described in accordance with legislative requirements.

Element 3

Describe the potential for damage by off-target spray drift by agrichemicals.

Performance criteria

3.1The factors that contribute to off-target spray drift are identified in accordance with NZS 8409:2004.

Rangevolatility, application methods, weather conditions, crop and soil capture, product formulation, calibration.

3.2The potential for off-target spray drift damage is described in accordance with NZS 8409:2004.

Rangeproduct eco-toxicity, exposure, dose, off-target sensitivity including potential for property damage, contamination.

3.3Off-target spray drift hazard minimisation is described in accordance with NZS 8409:2004.

Rangelegal requirements including EELs, planning, consultation, notification, equipment, weather conditions.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018