FARMERS have one year in which to ensure that they or their sprayer operator holds a recognised certificate if they plan to apply a professional pesticide, warns The Voluntary Initiative (VI).

One of the requirements of the UK’s Sustainable Use Regulations is that from November 26, 2015, anyone applying professional crop protection products must hold a Recognised Certificate, such as the PA1 and 2A or 6A. Those currently operating under “Grandfather Rights” have two alternatives:

To apply pesticides on their own land/property or that of their employer anyone born before December 31, 1964 can take the City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides Replacing Grandfather Rights.

To apply professional products as a contractor or to land not owned by them or their employer, operators must take the existing Level 2 Safe Use of Pesticides qualification appropriate to the type of equipment used.

After November 26, 2015, the purchaser of professional pesticides must ensure that they or the end user holds an appropriate certificate.

The alternative is to delegate the task to a spray contractor with appropriate training and equipment.

So far 300 farmers have obtained the new Grandfather Certificate, and there has been a surge in interest with the Level 2 Award with an extra 2,700 taking the qualification in the last year.

NFU vice-president Guy Smith said: “This is a bit of training many farmers, including me, will have to undertake this winter. Hopefully everyone will have reasonably easy access to training and licensing provision.

“The NFU has been working with City & Guilds to raise awareness and promote the uptake of crop spraying relevant qualifications to meet the needs of the changes.

“I would also suggest talking to neighbours who have done the training as well as contacting the nearest agricultural college.”

Red Tractor assurance technical manager Jess Sloss said: “The Red Tractor Assurance standards for farms are one way our members can ensure that they are complying with the law.

“The standards have recently been revised to include the changes introduced by the Sustainable Use Regulations so possession of a recognised certificate or use of a suitably-qualified contractor is already being checked during farm assessments.”