Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Aylward for raising this case. The individual concerned was not mentioned in the question. I did not realise the Deputy's question was specific to one person but we may look at his particular case.

The sustainable use of pesticides directive establishes a framework for community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides. It aims to fill the current legislative gap regarding the use phase of pesticides at EU level through setting minimum rules for the use of pesticides in the community to reduce risks to human health and the environment. It also promotes the use of integrated pest management.

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 pesticide advisers, pesticide distributors, professional users and inspectors of pesticide application equipment. A new programme to test all pesticide application equipment is also being put in place. Bearing in mind the potentially toxic nature of pesticides, the need for appropriate training must be viewed in the context of protecting both human health and the environment and, in particular, maintaining the high quality of our water. The risk associated with the use of pesticides is related to the properties of the product itself and not to either the quantity used or the frequency of use.

As part of the quality assurance accreditation of every provider by the various awarding bodies, there is an undertaking to make skills-based courses, such as those required by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the registration of professional users, accessible to all. The Department has worked with a wide variety of service providers, including Teagasc, City & Guilds and FETAC, to ensure participants who have completed relevant pesticide application courses will meet the requirements for professional user training. In addition, an individual who has completed a pesticide application module equivalent to one of the Department's recognised qualifications as part of their certificate in agriculture or other award is not required to undertake any further training to register as a professional user. A list of training providers for professional pesticides users is available on the Department's website.

All plant protection products are classified as either professional or non-professional. Labels indicate to which category a product belongs and the status of a product may be checked on the Department's website. Non-professional or amateur plant protection products can continue to be used in the home or garden situation and are approved for such purposes. There are no restrictions on the use of such products and there is no requirement for such users to be trained or registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. These products are most likely to be found in the local garden centre, DIY store or supermarket.

It should be emphasised that 26 November 2015 is simply the official start date for the new regulations. The sustainable use of pesticides directive requires all professional users, namely, anybody who applies or sprays products authorised for professional use, to be trained and registered as a professional user with the Department by 26 November, regardless of the quantity or method of application. Therefore, only registered professional users can spray professional use products after this date and there is an obligation on an individual to be appropriately trained as a professional user and registered with the Department before he or she may apply or spray professional plant protection products in order to be compliant with the provisions of the sustainable use directive. In practice, however, only those individuals who intend to apply plant protection products authorised for professional use immediately after 26 November will be required to have completed their training and registration. The vast majority of individuals who will not apply plant protection products until the spring or summer of 2016 will have some further time to be trained and registered. However, they must meet this requirement before they apply or spray professional plant protection products.

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