European legislation coming into force this November requires all users of professional pesticides to hold a recognised certificate. Everyone using professional pesticides such as weed killers, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides or slug pellets is affected – including farmers; grassland and arable alike.
It is already the case that all users of professional pesticides born after 31st December 1964 or anyone applying pesticides a part of a commercial service, must hold a specified certificate. Those born before 31st December 1964 have benefited from an exemption commonly known as ‘Grandfather Rights’.
This exemption ends on 26th November 2015 and from this date anyone making applications needs to be properly trained and qualified, regardless of age and experience.
What do I need to do?
If you wish to apply professional products yourself you will need to be trained and qualified. If you buy products from an agricultural supplier, as opposed to a garden centre, they are likely to be for professional use but it’s a good idea to ask if you’re not sure.
If you are using professional pesticides, first decide if you wish to continue using the product(s) in which case you will need to gain a specified certificate. Alternatively you could choose to only use amateur products authorised for home and garden use, or hire a contractor with the appropriate certificates and insurance to carry out applications of professional pesticides for you.
If you do want to continue using professional products yourself you will need to decide which certificate is the most appropriate. If you have had Grandfather Rights and only apply pesticides to your own land (owned or rented) you can take a specially designed certificate ‘Safe Use of Pesticides replacing Grandfather Rights’.
This is a new qualification that takes into account the experience that applicants will have accumulated over their years of spraying.
If you were born after 31st December 1964 or intend to apply pesticides on someone else’s land such as a friend or neighbour’s, even if only occasionally, you need to take ‘Safe Use of Pesticides’ and an application qualification specific to the products you use and how you apply them (hand held such with a knapsack or with a vehicle and boom).
Rebecca Wells from The Voluntary Initiative offers some advice on deciding which option to go for. ‘When deciding how best to proceed it is important to think carefully about the type and amount of pesticides you intend to use. If you only use pesticides very occasionally it might not be worth your time undertaking the training. If you already use a contractor, or have someone else working on the farm who holds the right qualifications it may be worth talking to them to see if they can also take on the pesticide applications.
Under the same European piece of European legislation all vehicular mounted or trailed sprayers over 5 years old will need to be tested by November 2016 and then at regular intervals thereafter. This could have an effect on your business decision regarding 'Grandfather Rights' and how to go about applying pesticides in the future.
To find your local training provider and test centre visit www.nptc.org.uk or www.lantra-awards.co.uk
To find out more about the options for the ending of 'Grandfather Rights' or for more information about best practice pesticide use visit www.voluntaryinitiative.org.uk
To find a professional agricultural contractor visit the National Association of Agricultural Contractors www.naac.co.uk/find_a_contractor
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