Changes toGrandfather Rights

The current exemption under ‘Grandfather Rights’ for spray operators will end on 26^th November 2015.  Currently those born before 31^st December 1964 are allowed to apply plant protection products (PPPs) on their own or employer’s land without holding a spray certificate – known as Grandfather Rights.  The Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012 allows this exemption to continue until 26^th November 2015.  After this date everyone who uses PPPs will require a certificate.  In addition, after this date, it will also be an offence to purchase PPPs unless you are sure the that the end user has a certificate.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced a new Certificate in the Safe Use of Pesticides for those who currently fall within Grandfather Rights.  The new qualification will be a City and Guilds Land Based Services Level 2 Award.  It will take into account that people who have been operating under this exemption will, in most cases, have had many years of experience in working with pesticides.  To this end, the new qualification will take less time and will not cost as much as the existing Level 2 qualifications for pesticides.  The new qualification is only for those operators who were born before 31^st December 1964 and will only use pesticides on their own or employer’s land.  Contractors must obtain an existing Level 2 qualification.  The new qualification is expected to be available from 26^th November 2013.  Details will be available from the City and Guilds NPTC website at http://www.nptc.org.uk/