The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive establishes a framework for European Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides by setting minimum rules to reduce the risks to human health and the environment that are associated with pesticide use. It also promotes the use of integrated pest management. The Directive is designed to further enhance the high level of protection achieved through the entire regulatory system for pesticides. Implementation of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive relies heavily on the training of the various people involved at all levels of the industry, including Professional Users i.e. any individual who applies professional use Plant Protection Products.
The need for appropriate training must be viewed in the context of protecting both human health (operators, bystanders and consumers) and the environment and, in particular, maintaining the high quality of one of our most valuable resources, our water.
November 26, 2015, the date after which only a registered professional user can apply pesticides authorised for professional use, has been laid down in the Sustainable Use Directive of 2009 and also in S.I. 155 of 2012, which transposed the Directive into Irish law. This has given a substantial lead-in time for people to avail of appropriate training.
In practice, only those farmers who intended to apply plant protection products immediately after the 26 November date will have had to complete their training and registration by that date. The vast majority of farmers will not be applying plant protection products until the spring/summer of 2016 and therefore will have some further time within which to be trained and registered but they must complete this requirement before they apply/spray professional plant protection products.
