A professional user of plant protection products of the first registration class is a person who uses plant protection products of the first or second registration class or sprays plant protection products in the course of his professional activity.
The State Plant Protection Service issues a certificate of a professional user of plant protection products for activities with plant protection products of the first registration class in the following cases:
- If the user does not have higher or secondary vocational education in agriculture, a training programme must be completed. In this case, the person must apply to a training provider, the list of which is published on the State Plant Protection Service website. The costs associated with the training are to be borne by the trainee. The training provider shall determine the procedure for payment for the training and the amount of payment.
- If the user has higher or secondary vocational education in agriculture, training is not compulsory. In this case, a knowledge test must be passed at the State Plant Protection Service. In this case, the person must submit an application to any regional department of State Plant Protection Service or to the State Plant Protection Service administration in Riga, Lielvārdes iela 36. State Plant Protection Service will inform you of the time and place of the test.
After completing the training course, the person submits an application to the State Plant Protection Service, together with a photograph (3x4 cm) and a certificate of completion of the training programme, stating the name of the trainer, the person's name and personal identification number, information on the training programme completed, the date of issue of the certificate and the name and signature of the person issuing the certificate.
If the user has completed the training, an exam is organised by the State Plant Protection Service in cooperation with the trainer. The exam takes place at the trainer's premises on the last day of training.
The is conducted in writing. The exam is evaluated by a committee approved by the Director of State Plant Protection Service. A certificate is issued by the State Plant Protection Service if the test is passed. A person is deemed to have passed the test if he/she has answered at least 90 % of the questions correctly.
The costs of taking the test and obtaining the certificate are covered by the person in accordance with the Price List of the Paid Services Provided by the State Plant Protection Service.
The validity period of the certificate of a professional plant protection products user for the first registration class of plant protection products shall be five years.
A person who has obtained a professional plant protection products user's certificate for the first registration class for the use of plant protection products automatically acquires the status of a plant protection products vendor and the status of a plant protection products operator for a period of five years.
To extend the validity of the certificate, the person must submit to the State Plant Protection Service an application, the certificate, a certificate of completion of the training course referred to in paragraph 25 of this Regulation and a photograph. The validity of the licence shall be extended by the competent authority on the basis of the information provided in the application and the certificate. The certificate shall not be required if the validity of the licence is extended by the State Plant Protection Service with the trainer with whom the training programme has been completed.
If a person has not renewed his/her certificate within one year of its expiry in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations, he/she must obtain a new certificate only after having attended a training course on new developments in plant protection legislation and successfully passed an examination on the basic training programme.
Certificates issued in accordance with Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 463 of 29 April 2004 'Regulations on the distribution, storage and use of plant protection products' shall be valid until the expiry date specified therein, after which the person shall renew the knowledge in accordance with the procedure laid down in the regulatory enactments.
Topics of the basic training and knowledge refreshing training programme for the use of first registration class plant protection products
(18 hours: 12 hours theory, 4 hours practice, 2 hours exam, 6 hours knowledge refreshing training)
| Topic | Baisic training (in hours) | Refreshing knowledge (in hours) |
| 1. The concept of plant protection. Plant protection in Latvia. The main measures for the control and eradication of plant pests | 0,5 | |
|
2. Legislation on the storage and use of plant protection products. Documenting the use of plant protection products. Record keeping of plant protection products purchased and used. European Union plant protection legislation. Latvian national plant protection legislation. Requirements to be met by users of plant protection products in accordance with laws and regulations. Register of plant protection products.Main restrictions on the use of plant protection products. Labelling of plant protection products. Code of Administrative Offences. Law on administrative procedure. Main offences |
1,5 | |
| 3. Amendments to legislation | 0,5 | |
| 4. Changes to the register of plant protection products | 0,5 | |
| 5. Quarantine and non-quarantine organisms | 1,0 | 1,0 |
| 6. Basics of fumigation | 4,0 |
|
| 6.1. what are fumigants - differences from other preparations. Physical and chemical properties. Lethal doses (LD). Resistance | ||
| 6.2. the principles of choice, the factors influencing them. Diffusion (dose, concentration, carrier substances) | ||
| 6.3. methods of concentration determination, characteristics (halogen lamp, interferometer gas analysers, Dräger, Auer gas analysers/tubes, sensor gas analysers) | ||
| 6.4. technical devices used during fumigation. Fumigation facilities. The object to be treated, the product (residues). Warehouses, elevators, mills, grain, vessels, vehicles | 0,5 | |
| 6.5. degassing (facilities - ships, rooms, greenhouses). Collection of the preparation | ||
| 6.6. alternative processing methods (e.g. vacuum treatment, heat treatment) | 1,0 | |
| 7. Occupational safety | 2,5 | 1,0 |
| 7.1. plant protection products and their health effects. Personal protective equipment (including respiratory and face protection, work clothing) | ||
| 7.2. safety requirements for the organisation of work with plant protection products (including storage, transport, preparation, pre-treatment) | ||
| 7.3. occupational health and safety requirements when working with plant protection products (including safe working practices) | ||
| 8. Potential hazards and risks from the use of plant protection products | 1,0 | 0,5 |
| 8.1. risk to humans (operators, residents, bystanders, people entering treated areas, handling or consuming treated products) | ||
| 8.2. risk to the environment (beneficial insects, flora and fauna, biodiversity) | ||
| 9. Symptoms of plant protection product poisoning. First aid | 0,5 | 0,5 |
| 10. Illegal or counterfeit plant protection products. Risks. Identification of counterfeits | 0,5 | 0,5 |
| 11. Emergency response (accidental spillage of plant protection products, accidents) | 0,5 | |
| 12. Practical fumigation training | 4,0 |