Obtaining a certificate as a professional user of plant protection products for operations with plant protection products of second class
A professional user of plant protection products of the second class is a person who uses plant protection products of the first or second registration class in the course of his professional activities or sprays plant protection products from the air.
The State Plant Protection Service issues a certificate of a professional plant protection products user for operations with plant protection products of the second registration class in the following cases:
- If the user does not have a university or vocational secondary education in agriculture, a training programme is required. In this case, an application must be made to a training provider, the list of which is published on the website of the State Plant Protection Service. The costs associated with the training are covered by the trainee. The training provider determines the procedure for payment for the training and the amount of payment.
- If the user has a 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 submits an application (see Annex) to any State Plant Protection Service regional department or State Plant Protection Service administration office at Lielvārdes iela 36 in Riga State. A photo (3x4cm) has to be submitted with the application. Plant Protection Service will inform the applicant about the time and place of the test.
Upon completion of the training course, the person submits an application to the State Plant Protection Service, a photo (3x4 cm) and the certificate of completion of the training programme, indicating the name of the training provider, the person's name and personal identification number, information on the training programme, the date of issue of the certificate and the name and signature of the person issuing the certificate.
If the user has received training, a test is organised by the State Plant Protection Service in cooperation with the trainer. The test is held at the trainer's premises on the last day of the training.
The costs of taking the test and obtaining the certificate are covered by the trainee in accordance with the Price List of the Paid Services Provided by the State Plant Protection Service.
The validity period of the certificate is five years.
A person who has obtained the certificate of professional user of plant protection products for the use of plant protection products of the second registration class automatically acquires the status of seller of plant protection products and the status of operator of application of plant protection products for a period of five years.
To extend the validity of the certificate, the person has to submit an application, the certificate, a confirmation from the trainer on completion of the training course and a photograph to the State Plant Protection Service. The State Plant Protection Service will extend the validity of the certificate on the basis of the information provided in the application and the certificate. The confirmation is not required if the State Plant Protection Service extends the validity of the certificate at the trainer with whom the training programme has been completed.
If a person has not renewed the certificate within one year of its expiry in accordance with the requirements of the regulations, a new certificate will be issued only after the person has attended a training course on new developments in plant protection legislation and has successfully passed a test 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' are valid until the expiry date specified therein, after which the person must refresh knowledge in accordance with the procedure laid down in the legislation.
Topics of the basic training and knowledge refreshing training programme for the use of plant protection products of second registration class.
(30 hours: 27 hours training, 3 hours exam, 6 hours knowledge refreshing)
Topic |
Basic 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. European Union plant protection legislation. Latvian national plant protection legislation. Requirements to be complied with by users of plant protection products in accordance with the legislation. Register of plant protection products. Main restrictions on the use of plant protection products. Labelling of plant protection products. Records of plant protection products purchased and used. Code of Administrative Offences. Law on administrative procedure. Main offences |
2,0 | |
| 3. Amendments to laws and regulations. | 0,5 | |
| 4. Code of Administrative Offences. Law on Administrative Procedure. Main offences. | 0,5 | |
| 5. Changes to the register of plant protection products. | 0,5 | |
| 6. the basic principles of classification of plant protection products (e.g. by chemical composition, mode of action, harmful organism, formulation). | 1,0 | |
| 7. Quarantine and non-quarantine organisms. | 1,0 | |
| 8. Crop diseases. Classification. Major diseases of the main agricultural crops. Symptoms. | 3,5 | 0,5 |
| 9. Crop pests (e.g. insects, mites, nematodes). Their feeding and development cycles. Major pests of major agricultural crops. Symptoms of damage | 3,5 | 0,5 |
| 10. Weeds, their classification. Biological properties. Characteristics of common weeds. | 3,0 | 0,5 |
| 11. Integrated plant protection. | 2,0 |
|
| 11.1. prevention. | ||
| 11.2. plant protection products. Decision making on their use. Comparative assessment. | ||
| 12. Monitoring and forecasting of plant pests and diseases. | 2,0 | 2,0 |
| 13. Potential hazards and risks of using plant protection products. | 2,0 | |
| 13.1. risk to humans (operators, residents, bystanders, people, who enter treated areas, handle or consume treated products). | ||
| 13.2. risk to the environment (beneficial insects, flora and fauna, biodiversity). | ||
| 14. Symptoms of plant protection product poisoning. First aid | 0,5 | |
| 15. Illegal or counterfeit plant protection products. Risks. Identification of counterfeits | 0,5 | 0,5 |
| 16. Occupational health and safety requirements when working with plant protection products | 1,0 | 0,5 |
| 17. Plant protection product application equipment. Preparation for use. Operation | 2,0 | |
| 18. Emergency response (accidental spillage of plant protection products, accidents) | 0,5 |