Programme for inter-regional standardisation of checks made on spraying machines
Functional checks and calibrations of spraying machines together represent an essential element in the endeavour to improve the quality of the distribution of phytosanitary products in agriculture, in that such checks lead to a reduction in the use of said products, and - most importantly - in the amount of product lost during the spraying operations (up to 80% of the actual amount distributed is lost), with resultant damage to the environment. Currently, in Italy, checks on spraying equipment are conducted only in certain regions, and, moreover, are limited to those companies that have adopted eco-friendly production systems.
The low level of verification is accompanied by the lack of a shared test methodology - this results in a series of differences between regions in terms of: parameters examined in the course of functional checks; acceptability limits of those parameters; types of tools (test benches) and instruments used in the course of the functional checks; exemption criteria for new and ENAMA-certified sprayers; and period of validity of the functional checks being carried out.
As well as creating considerable discrepancies between farmers in the various Italian regions, to say nothing of operational difficulties both for manufacturers of spraying machinery and for the third-party companies that use those machines around regional borders, this situation also places Italy in marked contrast with the practices adopted by the rest of Europe, where approved functional checks have been the norm for some time.
ENAMA, therefore, set up a dedicated project, including the creation of a Technical Working Group, co-ordinated by Prof. Balsari of the Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Environmental Engineering (DEIAFA) at the University of Turin, which includes functionaries of the Autonomous Regions and Provinces and scientific experts nominated by them. Without entering into a discussion of the operational and organisational merits of the single regional bodies, the particular responsibilities of the Technical Working Group are to:
- establish a shared testing methodology for conducting functional checks on sprayers that conform to standardised norms (EN 13790);
- define the minimum specifications and functional requirements of the equipment used to conduct the tests;
- define the service activation procedures on a shared basis but with operational approaches to be decided by the regional authorities themselves in order to capitalise on the skills available within each region;
- establish criteria for the attainment of mutual recognition of the work carried out by the different test centres operating across Italy;
- define standard procedures for the registration and archiving of results (restricted group) ;
- promote the calibration of sprayers.
