Introduction

Company name: Novartis Animal Health UK Ltd

Address: Frimley Business Park

Frimley

Camberley

Surrey

GU16 7SR

Telephone: 01276 694402

Fax: 01276 694403

Presentation

Dip concentrate, containing 100 g/litre (10% w/v) high-cis cypermethrin (tech.), for dilution with water.

Uses

For use on sheep as a plunge dip after dilution of the product with water. For the control of blowfly strike. For the treatment and control of lice and ticks. For the control of scab caused by pyrethroid-sensitive mites.

Dosage and administration

Blowfly and Scab Control

Initial dilution rate: 1 litre dip to 400 litres water.

Top up

1 litre dip to 300 litres of top up water after 10% depletion in volume.

Prevents blowfly strike for 8–10 weeks.

Lice & Ticks

Initial dilution rate

1 litre dip to 1000 litres water.

To prepare the bath

Check that the bath is clean and only use clean water. Fill the dip bath with the required volume of water. If accurately calibrated, fill up to the required mark. To prevent overspill do not fill the bath to capacity and make sure that you allow for water displacement by the sheep. Surge baffles can help prevent spillage. For calibrating the dip bath use a vessel of known volume. It is vital to measure the concentrate and water accurately: DO NOT GUESS. If you are not sure how to do so contact your supplier or seek other reliable help. Thoroughly mix the dip concentrate with the water by carefully stirring it using a metal rod.

Hard water

Hard water should be softened before use with the dip. You need 1 kg (or 2lbs 3oz) of washing soda to each 500 litres (or 110 gallons) of water and it needs to stand for 2–3 hours before dip concentrate is added.

Dipping

When dipping for sheep scab all parts of the animal, except the head and ears, should remain under the mixture for at least a minute. Plunge the head under at least twice, allowing time for the animal to breathe between plunges. In confirmed cases of clinical sheep scab, double dipping at an interval of 14 days should be employed. When dipping for blowfly strike, ticks and lice ½ a minute is long enough in the dip bath. Once dipped all sheep should stand in draining pens for no less than 10 minutes. If large amounts of scum form on the surface of the bath skim it off and place in a secure container. This must be clearly marked and disposed of safely.

Top up

Top up after the volume of the bath has fallen by no more than 10%. Top up at the required rate.

To prevent fouling of the bath

Fouling of the dip wash reduces effectiveness. Therefore do not dip more than one sheep per 2 litres of dipwash that was in the bath at the start of dipping. For example if the total volume of wash in your dip bath was 1,000 litres (220 gallons) you should not dip more than 500 sheep no matter how many times you have topped up the bath. You should then empty, clean and recharge the bath with fresh dip wash.

Retention of the dip overnight

If the dip wash is to be retained for use the following day, add two 50 g sachets of bacteriostat per 500 litres of wash AT THE END OF THE DAY'S DIPPING. The sachets in the polythene bag are water-soluble. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN A SACHET. Simply open the polythene bag, throw the sachet into the bath and allow to dissolve. This releases the bacteriostat into the wash. STIR THE BATH THOROUGHLY to speed the dissolution of the sachet and disperse the wetted powder, so that even distribution of the bacteriostat throughout the bath is achieved. Dip wash is no longer suitable for re-use after 14 days.

Contra-indications, warnings, etc

Before you prepare the dip bath

Check that Robust Dip is an appropriate product for your sheep.

Do not use if the expiry or “use by” date on the product has passed. The batch number and expiry date are printed on the pack label.

Consider the condition of the sheep. You should not dip sheep when they are tired, thirsty or heat stressed and not within the 3 week period after shearing. Also do not dip sheep if their fleece is already wet, and consult your veterinary surgeon if your sheep are ill from any other disease. Also seek advice if dipping pregnant ewes.

Dipping should only be carried out in a well ventilated area, preferably outdoors.

Only use a dip bath that is well designed and hazard free as shown in AS29 “Sheep Dipping”, (free copy from HSE Books tel: 01787 881165). This is essential for the safety of operators and the environment.

Check that the draining pens drain into the dip bath. If they do not you must change the design before operations start. Draining pen floors should be impermeable e.g. concreted. Check the bath for leaks and seal them before operations begin. Prepare a planned route for the sheep back to pasture or penning that avoids contact with watercourses of any kind.

After dipping

Occasional transient sedation may be seen for about an hour after sheep emerge from the dip. Do not house freshly dipped sheep in an enclosed building. Keep dipped sheep out of all watercourses. Ensure no leakage of dip or dip concentrate into watercourses of any kind. Always cover the bath when not in use and take action to prevent accidents to both animals and humans.

In the 3 month period after dipping you are advised not to shear sheep. If you sell the sheep you should tell the new owner when the animals were last dipped. If you take sheep to market it is good practice to ask the auctioneer to record (and pass on to the new owner) the date animals were last dipped particularly if they were dipped during the last 3 months. Never re-use concentrate containers.

Food safety

There are strict withdrawal periods that must be observed before the meat and milk may be used for human consumption following dipping with Robust:

Meat: Animals must not be slaughtered for human consumption during treatment. Sheep may be slaughtered for human consumption only after 18 days from last treatment. Records must also be kept.

Milk: It is unlawful to use Robust on animals producing milk for human consumption.

Do not let livestock graze on land for one month following the spreading of used dip.

Protective clothing

Ensure you have spare protective clothing available in case any items become damaged.

The recommended protective clothing is:

Face Shield (when handling the dip concentrate)

Bib apron (over boiler suit) or waterproof coat (PVC or nitrile)

Gloves (Non – lined or flock-lined, PVC or nitrile, heavy duty gauntlet style 0.5 mm thick and at least 300 mm long)

Waterproof trousers/ leggings (PVC or nitrile to be worn outside your boots)

Wellington boots

Safety precautions

Handle with extreme caution. Robust Sheep Dip can be dangerous to people, animals, and all wildlife large and small, if proper precautions are not taken. Keep children away from all dipping operations. Check that all those involved are adequately trained and competent. The National Proficiency Test Council (NPTC) tel: 024 7669 6553 has names of training providers. Make sure that everyone involved in dipping operations has the recommended protective clothing and insist that they wear it. Immediately wash off sheep dip, particularly dip concentrate, if it gets on your skin or in your eyes. Before leaving the work area wash and remove protective clothing and do not smoke, drink, eat or use the toilet during dipping operations. Always wash hands, face and exposed skin immediately after leaving the work area.

Immediately remove heavily contaminated clothes and wash contaminated areas of skin.

If you need to handle sheep in the weeks following dipping wear protective clothing because dip residues remain on the fleece.

Disposal

It is an offence to permit any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter to enter any river, stream, watercourse, land drain or soakaway. Report any environmental pollution immediately. For the UK ring 0800 80 70 60. Make sure all used sheep dip, including rinse water from washing protective clothing and equipment, drains back into the dipper for safe disposal. To dispose of used sheep dip you must have an authorisation under the Groundwater Regulations 1988. To apply for an authorisation contact the Environment Agency (EA) tel: 08459 333111. In Scotland you should contact your local office of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). In Northern Ireland you should contact the Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland (EHS/DENI) tel: 02890 251477. Used sheep dip may be disposed of by using a licensed waste disposal contractor. Alternatively you may be able to make arrangements (for the return of dip concentrate) with your supplier.

Do not apply used dip to areas where wild fowl are likely to graze. Geese are particularly vulnerable. In any case use bird scarers on land where used dip has been spread.

Medical advice to users

This product contains cypermethrin which may produce tingling, itchiness, blotchy redness on exposed skin, headaches and dizziness.

If you have previously felt unwell after using this product consult your doctor and give him/her this label.

If you become heavily contaminated with the concentrate, you should remove clothing and rinse with plenty of water areas of skin that came into contact with the dip. If you have symptoms as stated in the “Information for doctors”, call your doctor. If sheep dip has been swallowed go straight to hospital and take this label with you. Your copy of “Sheep Dipping” AS29 includes further medical advice.

Information for doctors

Symptoms of poisoning with pyrethroid compounds include headache, dizziness, tingling (especially on the face), itching (with red blotchy skin), loss of appetite, excessive salivation and eye watering.

Severe poisoning is uncommon and usually follows a substantial ingestion of the product. This may cause impaired consciousness, muscle twitching and convulsions.

Advice on clinical management is available from the National Poisons Information Service. (Either access TOXBASE on the Internet/NHS web at http://www.spib.axl.co.uk or telephone 0870 600 6266).

Pharmaceutical precautions

Store concentrate locked away in tightly closed original container. Store below 25° C. Protect from frost.

Keep out of reach of children. For animal treatment only. For external use only.

Legal category

POM-VPS

Packaging Quantities

5 litre plastic containers .

Further information

Please read all of the product label and follow the instructions carefully – this is for your own safety, for the safety of others, and for the protection of the environment. If after you have read the label, you need further information speak to your supplier. At your merchants speak to the AMTRA Qualified Person.

If your supplier is unable to help telephone the Health and Safety Executive tel: 08701 545500 or the Veterinary Medicines Directorate tel: 01932 336911.

Marketing authorisation number

Vm 12501/4118.