The Farmers Mart Oct/Nov 2013 - Issue 30 | Page 70

MACHINERY

CHANGE IN SPRAYER RULES WILL
MEAN SOME RETRAINING
Farmers and sprayer operators born
before 1965 will soon be legally
required to hold a certificate of
competence to spray agrichemicals.
Currently in the UK, anyone born before
31 December 1964 is allowed to use Plant
Protection Products (PPPs), authorised
for professional use on their own or their
employer’s land without an operator’s
certificate of competence, although they
should be “suitably trained and competent
for their job”, according to the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE).
But after 26 November 2015, anyone
who previously relied on “grandfather
rights” will be required to hold a Certificate
of Competence in the Safe Use of
Pesticides.
The HSE announcement follows
amendments to the Plant Protection
Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations
2012 aimed at achieving the sustainable
use of pesticides by “reducing risks

and impacts on human health and the
environment”.
In addition, after 26 November 2015, it
will be an offence for anyone to purchase
PPPs authorised for professional use
unless they have ensured that the intended
end user has a certificate.
City and Guilds Land Based Services
is developing a new Level 2 Award in
the “Safe Use of Pesticides, replacing
“grandfather rights”.
The HSE said in a statement: “If you were
born before 31 December 1964, and will
only use pesticides on your own or your
employer’s land, you will need to obtain this
new qualification.
“Alternatively, you can obtain one of the
existing Level 2 Safe Use of Pesticide
awards appropriate to the work and type
of equipment you use. You must take this
route if you intend to work as a contractor
or apply Plant Protection Products (PPPs)
to land you or your employer do not own.”

Philip
Ltd

The new qualification will take account
of the fact that people working under
“grandfather rights” should already have
some form of training and may have
many years’ experience in working with
pesticides.
In recognition of this, the qualification has
been developed so as to take significantly
less time, and cost less, than the existing
Level 2 qualifications for pesticide users.
The training will be based on a workbook,
setting out the required knowledge,
which can be studied at the candidate’s
convenience. This will be followed up with
a practical assessment of competence.
The proposed release date for the
qualification is 26 November 2013.
Registration will be available through
local City and Guilds NPTC Assessment
Centres.

www.nptc.org.uk

Hall Farm, Stainton, Nr. Rotherham, S. Yorkshire S66 7QY
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
www.philipwatkins.co.uk

2.4m Mounted TRI-TILL
Also available 3m and 3.6m

5m QUAD-TILL
Available 3m to 6m

3m Heavy Duty
Stubble Cultivator

Available mounted
3m, 3.5m and 4m
Also available Trailed
4m to 12m

4.8m Incorporator
70

Oct/Nov 2013 FarmersMart

To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk