Closed Transfer Systems

Written By: Dr. Jason Deveau, Application Technology Specialist, OMAFRA

What is a Closed Transfer System (CTS)?

According to a definition from the PMRA on a recent re-evaluation of Lorox L (linuron):

“A closed system means removing a pesticide from its original container, rinsing, mixing, diluting, and transferring the pesticide through connecting hoses, pipes, and couplings that are sufficiently tight to prevent exposure of any person to the pesticide or rinsing solution. Rinsing is not required with the pesticide is used without dilution.”

So, a CTS permits the direct transfer of pesticides from container to sprayer while isolating the process from the operator and the environment. The reason you should care is that Ontario now has four products sold in <10L jugs that require operators to use a closed transfer system: Sevin XLR, Bravo ZN*, Lorox L, and Etherel. And it’s very likely that’s only the beginning.

*There are caveats associated with Bravo ZN (i.e. specific volumes and products, please refer to the label for further details)

The reason behind the requirement is easy to appreciate. A CTS eliminates point source contamination from small spills, reduces operator exposure, and the best examples of these systems reliably meter small volumes or entire jugs faster and more accurately than an operator can. This is the new reality in Europe and the UK.

In Ontario, however, the concept is still new, and we don’t have as many commercial options for complying with the regulation. That’s why Provide Agro recently hosted a demo of the two available systems: Goat Throat (US made) and Easy Flow M (German made and distributed throughout North America).

We showed a small group of orchardists the relative merits of each approach and walked them through the process of capping, dispensing, rinsing and storing (or disposing) of jugs. There are still a lot of questions about which jug formats will be compatible, how to attach the feed line to sprayer tanks, and how this works with dry formulations (spoiler: it doesn’t) but we’re all still learning, and these are early days.

If you’d like to learn more about closed transfer, you can read up on it here: Closed Transfer Systems (Agritechnica 2023 Update) – Sprayers 101