Freedom of Information Request - '-Cide' Use
Date: 16 May 2025
Our ref: SIR179955/A5149890
Information Request – '-Cide' Use
Your Request
‘I would like to request the following:
1. A list of all -cides used by NatureScot. This is inclusive of, but not limited to: any and all avicides, biocides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, and rodenticides.
2. The annual cost and volume of purchase of each of these -cides, broken down by -cide, from January 2014 to December 2024. Please list this on a spreadsheet (CSV), broken down by:
a. -Cide
b. Product Name
c. Volume Purchased
d. Price Paid
e. Purchase Date
3. A list of each of these -cides' use, by volume. Through this I am trying to ascertain whether the purchased volume is matched by the used volume, so if there is a record of expired or unused -cides too, that would be ideal. Please add this to the above CSV as an additional column, also on an annual basis over the same time period. Please list volume in either litres or kilograms, whichever is more appropriate.
4. Only if available and easily accessible, the location and purpose of each specific -cide’s use. For the former, this may be classified by: location grouping, address, coordinate, or otherwise.
If any of the individual pieces of information listed above are not available but others are, like cost and volume, then please signal this while responding with the other available information.
Additionally, if records are only available for a time period less than that specified above, please provide these instead of rejecting the request as a whole.
If this request goes beyond time and cost restrictions, please respond with its time and cost estimate and recommendations to cut this down so that I can effectively follow up.’
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is attached separately.
The information provided covers our use of ‘-cides’ on land we own or directly manage. The quantities used by NatureScot are small as we limit how much is used and prefer other methods for most activities to support biodiversity. Applications of e.g. herbicides are also not done on an annual recurring basis. Please note, we are only required to retain records for three years.
We have not included any land, not owned by us, where we fund others to purchase materials and manage land in line with agreed nature conservation objectives as we are not directly in control of the quantities used as long as it is within best practice guidelines. We have also not included office grounds where we are sharing the space with other organisations who are responsible for maintenance or contracted services, though we would ensure they comply with the SI2002 no2677 control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002.
Within NatureScot we use biocides in biosecurity kits and in office buildings but there is no central purchasing or stocktaking of these products, and we do not hold comprehensive records of volumes purchased, price paid or purchase dates.
Although not directly relevant to your request, you may be interested in this commissioned report NatureScot published about herbicide usage in nature conservation last year.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
