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: [email protected] 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