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If I can suggest a different way to look at it Andrew - like your school exams - its more a confirmation of basic standards. It shows customers (if they ask) that you have : a) invested in proper training, b) Gives you more credibility when advertising to potential customers, adverts, etc. 3) It safeguards the future availability of chemicals we need to do our jobs and the wider world of food supply.....
It is very easy to get spraying wrong (without knowing it) plus there is a legal requirement for safe and legal application. If you caused a contamination incident in a waterway the EA would certainly look for proper training when investigating and any spraying that causes health issues or complaints by members of public would be followed up by HSE - who do not mess around!
Should the ea or hse come down harder on a person/entity if they have the training yet still manage to pollute a river stream.
I think they will/should come down harder on you; perhaps more importantly, you'll be insured.
I tend to look upon having the licence as a differentiator; it says to customers we are trained, we have legitmate access to professional products and we know how to use them. We'll do the right thing.
To some extent, the cost, may seem high, but actually its not, as it does reflect a light touch regulatory wise without ongoing costs. We are being trusted as an industry to self regulate at the moment; if we show we don't derserve that through people abusing the system, then ongoing costs will go up. There will need to be annual licences, records, inspections. All these will cost lots.
So at the moment, lets play by the rules, and be grateful we are being trusted. It could get bad (expensive / restrictive ) very quickly.