Chemical Stores and Avoiding Fines: A Breakdown

Jane on February 1, 2024

Farmers with chemical stores beware because a bombshell is shaking up the world of Agrochemicals and it comes in the form of increased regulatory scrutiny. This double-edged sword is showing a pivot toward greater safety protocols and compliant storage solutions. On the one hand, this ensures greater safety for our beloved planet Earth and its greenery, but on the other hand, the threat of substantial fines is looming on the horizon.

Recently, several farms have been in the spotlight for fines imposed due to non-compliance with chemical storage regulations. In layman’s terms, they didn’t put their chemicals where they were supposed to go. These storage regulations can range anywhere from using proper containers to temperature to chemical compatibility. While these penalties may seem harsh, they were the wake-up call the agrochemical industry may have needed.

Regulatory compliance in the United Kingdom is governed by various laws, regulations, and standards meant to ensure the safety of agricultural products, protect human health, safeguard the environment, and maintain the integrity of the food supply chain.

What Does Regulatory Compliance in the United Kingdom Involve?

  1. Pesticide Regulation
    Pesticides making their way into our fruits and vegetables can be disastrous, which is why the UK has the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The HSE assesses the safety and efficacy of pesticides, while DEFRA is responsible for implementing and developing the appropriate policy.

  2. Product Registration
    Your pesticides and fertilisers share one thing with your car: they all need to be registered. For your agrochemicals, though, you don’t go to the DVLA, you go to the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) of the HSE. It’s a bit of a tricky process, though, because it involves submitting comprehensive data on product safety, efficacy, and environmental impact.

  3. Biocide Regulation
    Biocides are the weapons of mass destruction in the agrochemical world, including disinfectants and preservatives. Like any deadly weapon that can take out the most fearsome of bacteria, biocides are regulated under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) in the UK. Before any biocidal product can make its way to the market, it has to get authorisation from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

  4. Labelling and Packaging
    Just like you can’t have a bottle of ketchup without Heinz on the label, you can’t have agrochemical products without the proper labelling. It doesn’t end there, though, because this label must comply with regulatory requirements and standards, meaning it has to provide users with clear, essential information on proper use, handling, storage, and disposal.

  5. Environmental Protection
    Mother nature is in pain and we have to do all we can to protect her, including minimising the environmental effects of agrochemicals. Pesticides are one of the major causes of pollution, so we have to keep a lookout. This is done through regulations on certain substances, guidelines for application practices, and requirements for environmental risk assessments.

  6. Worker Safety
    We must protect our planet, but employers also have to protect their greatest assets: the workers. There are several regulations related to worker health and safety including providing appropriate training and personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensuring safe handling and use of agrochemical products.

  7. Quality Control
    The way quality control makes sure everything is as it should be in other industrial sectors ensures the consistency, efficacy, and purity of agrochemical products. Quality control has procedures like Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines and regular inspections by regulatory authorities.

  8. Data Reporting and Monitoring
    The agrochemical industry is a well-oiled machine due to submitting data on product safety, usage, and adverse effects to regulatory agencies for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

What Happens if I Don’t Comply with Regulatory Requirements?

Non-compliance with the UK’s regulatory requirements for the agrochemical industry makes you less of a cool outlaw, and more of a receiver of enforcement actions, including fines, product recalls, and restrictions on market access. This is why companies operating in this sector must prioritize compliance efforts to ensure the legality and safety of their products and operations.

There is an upside, however, because those who adapt quickly are poised to not only avoid fines but also enhance their reputation for safety and responsibility.

For more, call us on 0800 121 7388 or visit our Chemical Storage 4 Farmers website.

How to keep your agricultural chemical storage in line with 2019 health and safety laws

Jane on March 20, 2019

In 2019, HSE and the UK Government are tightening legislation surrounding health and safety on farms. This is due to new figures showing that 33 deaths occurred on farms in the UK between 2017 and 2018, with some (if not all) being preventable by following proper health and safety measures. Furthermore, the research conducted by HSE shows that other types of workplaces vastly outperform farms when it comes to health and safety. Agricultural workplace deaths are a staggering 18 times higher than the national industry average.

With this in mind, it’s important to check that all aspects of your farm comply with the current laws, including your chemical storage.  Following these laws is vitally important to protect you, your employees and the public from death or injury. But also, if you are found to be in breach of the law, you could be liable for a hefty fine or even face the closure of your farm following inspections likely to take place this year.

The inspections, promised by the Government in 2018, will encompass all aspects of farming, from procedures to equipment. Chemical storage will be one of the items on the checklist, so it is up to you to ensure that your storage facilities meet the HSE and BASIS requirements.

There are many different types of chemicals used in conventional farming, including fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and more. Accidents involving chemicals can range from a spillage which could leak into the environment or cause physical harm to workers, to a fire which could spread if not contained. Appropriate storage can help to prevent these situations.

Chemical storage containers for farmers


If you feel that your current method of chemical storage may be inadequate, now is the time to update your facilities. However, you don’t need to feel daunted at this prospect; correct chemical storage is easy to achieve and most spacial requirements can be met in one go
with converted shipping containers.

At Billie Box, we have many years’ experience converting shipping containers for use by agricultural businesses. Our converted containers meet the BASIS criteria for chemical stores and are available in a range of sizes to suit your needs.

Why choose a shipping container for chemical storage? Shipping containers are by nature sturdy and secure. With billions of pounds of goods transported in shipping containers around the world each year, integrity and security is a priority. Containers must be weatherproof and secure against thieves from the offset, making them ideal storage facilities for chemicals on a farm.

One of the main features of our converted containers, which ticks a vital box on the health and safety list, is the protection against leakages. Shipping containers come to us with wooden floors, which we then overlay or replace with steel as it is leak-proof. Depending on
the amount and nature of chemicals you need to store, we can use a steel checkerplate floor or a raised mesh floor with drainage sump for added protection against leakages. Steel bunds are fitted as standard during conversion, which stop chemicals leaking out of the entrance of the container up to 110% or 185% (depending on your capacity requirements).

Made with fire resistant materials, our chemical storage containers help to prevent against the spread of fire to your chemicals. In the event of a fire, contact with extremely flammable chemicals can be disastrous, and an event such as this could result in injury, death or loss of
property, stock or equipment. Our converted containers are constructed of corten steel and coated in marine paint, which expands the life of the steel and therefore helps retain its fire resistance.

As expected of any chemical storage facility, our containers feature suitable access and exits. In the event of a fire, leak or any other dangerous situation, it is important for any personnel to be able to evacuate the container easily, so we can provide access points
suitable to the number of workers dealing with chemicals on your farm. Likewise, in emergencies such as these, the container’s ventilation will prevent the build up and inhalation of chemical or smoke fumes.

While it is essential to ensure that all areas of your agricultural business are compliant with current health and safety laws, we hope that this blog post has given you some insight into the way chemicals should be stored in order to avoid accidents. If your chemical storage needs updating, visit this page to find out more information and see the size options available to you.

Call Jane or Matt today to see what Billie Box can do for you: T: 0800 121 7388

Chemical stores for Schools

Jane on March 6, 2018

Chemical storage is increasingly becoming an issue in schools of all sizes.  Our Chemical Stores are suitable for many industries in particular Schools, colleges and Universities.

For the last 5 years we have been selling chemical / pesticide stores to the Farmers and Universities. For the farming industry we have set up a website called ChemicalStorage4Farmers. This has significantly increased our chemical storage container sales and the Billie Box reputation in the Chemical storage market. Our customers buy from us with confidence.

Many Schools, Colleges & Universities are under pressure to store their chemicals safely and securely. Billie Box Chemical storage containers are fitted with a lock box and supplied with a hardened steel padlock that fits inside the lock box. If any opportunist thieves or vandals try to break in, you need to be sure that the locking mechanism is suitable to keep the store secure.

Billie Box Chemical Stores are fitted with a clear decal on the door saying ‘Dangerous chemicals’ (meaning “Enter at your peril”).  Part of the reason for clear labelling is to mitigate potential litigation. When a Chemical Store is clearly labelled as hazardous, if unwanted intruders get injured from a chemical spillage, then it shouldn’t be your fault.

Even with good safety procedures in place accidents can still happen.  To prevent chemicals spilling out of the container a low physical barrier  is fitted by the doors to the container. This barrier is called a ‘bund’. The bunded floor ensures that any chemical spill does not seep out onto your site (where children and students are walking) or into any nearby water course.

We know that our chemical storage containers are perfect as a secure facility for your School, College or University.  Buying a Billie Box Chemical Store is the safe, simple way to keep your dangerous chemicals secure.

Billie Box Chemical stores meet with the Health and Safety executive’s criteria, giving you the confidence that our stores are suitable for your secure storage requirements.

Billie Box is featuring in the ‘Pitchcare’ online Buyers guide now.

So why not give us a call today on 0800 121 7388 or GET a Quote here

Jane & Matt at Billie Box value your business and they like to be sure that you walk away a happy customer.

Shipping Containers are Converted into Chemical Stores

Jane on June 19, 2014

Billie Box converts shipping containers into Chemical stores or Chemical Storage containers by using the HSE and BASIS criteria, making them perfect for Agricultural Storage.

BASIS is an independent organisation set up at the suggestion of the UK government in 1978 to establish and assess standards in the pesticide industry relating to storage, transportation and competence of staff. BASIS is an industry self-regulated scheme in line with government de-regulation policy. BASIS is now a registered charity.

10ft Chemical storage container fitted with mesh bunded floor & Shelving

The Basic criteria for all chemical stores:

These are stipulated in the code of practice for suppliers of pesticides to Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry (The Yellow code).

  •       Suitably sited – this is dependent on the type of chemical and site you wish to place it.
  •       Of adequate capacity – this will be determined by our customers, we fit bunds which will prevent any leakage from spillage.
  •       Soundly constructed of fire resistant materials – our stores are constructed of corten steel (high tensile) and painted with marine paint.
  •       Provided with suitable access and exits – this is dependent on the number of personnel and size of unit required.
  •       Capable of containing 110% or 185% of the total amount of pesticides/chemicals likely to be stored at any time (the bunding capacity required will be stipulated in the EA guidance)
  •       Dry internally and frost proof
  •       Well lit and ventilated
  •       Marked with appropriate warning signs
  •       Secure against theft and vandalism
  •       Equipped, organised and staffed to a suitable standard

Further information can be found in HSE information sheet no. 16 – Guidance on storing pesticides for farmers and other professional users.

Billie Box offers the following units:

External dimensions

  • 10ft chemical store (10ft Long x 8ft Wide x 8ft 6in high)
  • 20ft chemical store (19ft 10in Long x 8ft Wide x 8ft 6in high)

Internal dimensions

  • 10ft chemical store (9ft 3in Long x 7ft 8in Wide x 7ft 10in high)
  • 20ft chemical store (19ft 4″ Long x 7ft 8in Wide x 7ft 10in high)

Door opening

  • 10ft chemical store (7ft 6in Wide x 7ft 6in high)
  • 20ft chemical store (7ft 6in Wide x 7ft 6in high)

View our guide to shipping container dimensions…

Shipping containers have wooden floors; however, we replace them with steel. Steel mesh floors and drainage sumps are available. Different chemicals can have different requirements, so we ask our clients to advise their exact requirements in order for us to confirm a price.

Many different industries

There are many different industries that can use the same chemical store specification, such as:

  • Universities, schools, colleges and academies
  • Printers
  • Vineyards
  • Manufacturers
  • Garden Nurseries
  • Horticulture & Forestry organisations
  • Agriculture & Farming
  • Others include:
    • Adhesive manufacturers
    • Automotive
    • Aviation Food & drink
    • Biofuel
    • Biotechnology
    • Councils & local authorities
    • Chemical Defence Industry
    • Educational
    • Electronics
    • Gas
    • Golf Clubs
    • Healthcare
    • Landfills
    • Marine
    • Mining
    • Pharmaceuticals
    • Printing
    • Press
    • Public Sector
    • Publishing
    • Recycling
    • Sports clubs

For more information please contact us today on Freephone 0800 121 7388 or 01473 557409 for a free quotation.

10ft chemical storage sea container fitted with mesh bunded floor

10ft chemical store with steel mesh floor and steel bund

20ft steel chemical store with 12in high steel bunded floor

20ft chemical store with steel floor and steel bund

Drainage sump on a chemical store

Chemical store sump

For more information on farm storage, please see our sister website Chemical Storage 4 Farmers.

About Jane Billing
Jane Billing has over 30 years’ experience in shipping container supply. During that time Jane has gained a very broad knowledge of the whole shipping container industry. From construction, to shipping, to adaption and conversions, if you have a question about any aspect of the shipping container industry Jane will likely have the answer for you. After many years working for some of the biggest names in the shipping container industry Jane set up her own company, Billie Box Ltd, in 2012. Since launching, Billie Box Ltd has sold well over 1500 new and used containers.

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