The implementation of the legal requirement for closed filling systems for spray equipment has been postponed by one year, to 2027. Due to the cabinet's collapse, the decision-making process has been delayed, but the sector is urging people not to wait. Read more about the benefits, standards, and practical implementation.
The collaborating industry organizations Agrodis, Cumela, Fedecom, LTO Nederland, and CropLife NL regret the postponement but do not see it as a reason to wait. They emphasize that the requirement primarily serves as a sticking point: the sector must already take steps to handle crop protection products more safely and cleanly. Their advice to farmers, horticulturalists, and contractors therefore remains unchanged: start the transition to closed filling systems in time.
According to the organizations, the benefits are compelling. Closed filling systems reduce operator exposure and the environmental impact of filling sprayers by up to 99%. This is important for the health of operators and their employees, and also helps prevent the approval of crop protection products from coming under pressure.
Background
In practice, the implementation has proven quite feasible. There are plenty of filling system suppliers, and a growing number of crop protection products are equipped with the standard Easyconnect cap. The systems are available as surface-mounted or standalone versions and comply with the NEN-ISO 21191:2021 standard. The requirement will apply to filling sprayers with liquid crop protection products in containers ranging from 1 to 20 liters in open-field cultivation. According to the stakeholders, the benefits—such as reduced splashing, direct dosing, and reduced environmental impact—are so significant that purchasing a closed filling system should not be an issue.