If the Environmental Code of Practice cannot be followed, what must an applicator do?

• A. Apply for a Pesticide Special Use Approval.
• B. Continue applying with no permit.
• C. Use a different pesticide with no extra requirements.
• D. Pause activity until the code can be followed.

Answer: (A)

When you can’t follow the Environmental Code of Practice, you must obtain explicit authorization to proceed. The way to do this is to apply for a Pesticide Special Use Approval. This approval allows the regulator to review why you cannot meet the standard code, assess the associated risks, and set conditions to manage those risks and protect people, property, and the environment. Without this formal permission, continuing to apply would be non-compliant with pesticide regulations.

Thinking about alternatives helps clarify why this is the right path: using a different pesticide with no extra requirements would still require regulatory review if it’s being used under circumstances that deviate from the Code. Pausing activity is a prudent interim step, but it does not replace the need for a formal Special Use Approval to allow the application to proceed under approved terms. The approval process involves outlining the justification for deviation, the risk mitigation measures, and how environmental impact will be managed; the regulator may grant it with conditions or deny it if the risk is too high.