A new International Standard for PPP Closed Transfer Systems (CTS): setup of the test methods

Closed Transfer Systems (CTS) facilitate the introduction of Plant Protection Products (PPP) into the sprayer or mix tank with greatly reduced risk to the operator and the environment and are becoming more available to the market. A new standard (draft ISO 21191) concerning test methods and performance requirements for PPP Closed Transfer Systems is currently under development by an ISO working group. The scope of the Standard is to define the performance requirements that can deliver significant improvements in operator and environmental safety by using closed transfer systems for liquid formulations of PPP in 1 to 20 L containers. This provides an opportunity to specify the maximum potential contamination during any single transfer operation. The actions required to be completed are: starting from the container being removed from any secondary packaging, connection of the transfer device, completion of the product transfer procedure, measurement of a part container where applicable, rinsing of the container and the transfer device, and removal of the empty container ready for storage or disposal. It was proposed that the draft standard text should be verified by using three equipment designs offered by the industry as CTS equipment and aimed at testing the applicability and the consistency of the proposed methods for assessing: a) Potential leakages during CTS operations; b) Compatibility of CTS materials of construction with PPPs; c) Effectiveness of PPP container rinsing systems available on CTS; d) Amount of PPP residues on interfaces between CTS and PPP container; e) Amount of PPP residues in the CTS at the end of the transfer; f) Speed of transfer operation; g) Accuracy of CTS measuring devices when available. These verification tests were carried out in parallel at three different test stations that are members of the European Network for Testing of Agricultural Machines (ENTAM): DiSAFA Crop Protection Technology Laboratory in Italy, IRSTEA in France and JKI in Germany. Comparison and discussion of the results obtained allowed the details of the proposed test methods to be amended and refined in order to achieve affordable and objective test methodologies that meet the objectives of the standard as efficiently and reproducibly as possible.