New Level 2 Certificate in the Safe Use of Pesticides
City and Guilds Land Based Services is developing a new Level 2 Award in the “Safe Use of Pesticides, replacing “Grandfather Rights”. 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 {PPPs {Plant Protection Products} to land you or your employer do not own.
Further information on the new qualifications
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. As with all Level 2 pesticide awards, the training modules will be based on the type of equipment to be used. The assessment should generally be possible at the candidate’s premises, an assessment centre or at an alternative suitable venue.
When will the new qualification be rolled out and how do I find out more?
The proposed release date for the qualification is 26th November 2013. Registration will be available through local City and Guilds NPTC Assessment Centres. Full details will be available on http://www.nptc.org.uk/ in due course.
The Voluntary Initiative (VI) will put a set of Frequently Asked Questions on its website shortly.
http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/News/Collected-Updates/Information-Updates-2013/June/Grandfather-rights-changes
In addition:
Grandfathers Rights for Pesticide Users Changes to Current Rules
Information Update: 10/2013
Issued: 10 June 2013
A current exemption in UK law, commonly known as “grandfather rights”, allows anyone born before 31 December 1964, to use plant protection products (PPPs ) authorised for professional use on their own or their employer’s land, without having to hold a certificate (of competence) although they should still be suitably trained and competent for their job. The Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012 allows this exemption to continue until 26 November 2015, after which everyone who uses PPPs authorised for professional use must have a certificate.
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.If you don’t already have a certificate, you will need to get one by 26 November 2015 so that you can continue to use PPPs as part of your job after that date.
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Replies
I agree with a change in grandfather rights, but i still think the government and manufactures should do more on controlling how they sell there products especially to regular people without qualifications it puts a band name on professional when things go wrong.
Just completed this today ready for my PA6 course next week. Its fairly common sense stuff with the assessment being just a multiple choice exam on the computer that takes about half an hour.
how dare they take our grandfather rights away, us grandfathers have more experience (and common sens)and on the job know how than most of the instructors that i have come across this is from my experience. some of them would not pass the test themselves
If this post is for real, then you won't have a problem passing said exam and bringing yourself into line with the rest of the industry (irrespective of instructors) - grandfather age or not :-)
Then you'll be able to say : Fully trained, qualified and experienced ;-)
p.s....I am of that age as well....oh dear..:-(
David Benson said: