There are strict regulations that govern the sale and use of pesticides in the UK, and all pesticide products go through an approval and authorisation process.
The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) allocates a MAPP (Ministry Approved Professional Product) number to all pesticides used as a plant protection product - including amateur use products. This number is clearly visible on the product label, and on each of the relevant product pages on our website.
The law does not prevent individuals from buying Ministry Approved products from our website, as long as the buyer states that the end user does hold the correct certificate to use. So, all users of professional pesticides must be qualified to use them.
However, not all pesticides require training in order to use. Many products (including some weed killers for example) can be used in the home and garden without training, and the product label provides appropriate guidance for use of these non-professional pesticides. Conversely, a person that is using an amateur use product for commercial gain (such as a gardener or landscaper), must still have the certificate to use the product, even though it is amateur use.
The law as it relates to using pesticides
The law states that all users of professional pesticides (those with an allocated MAPP number) must be adequately trained and must follow the information given on the product label.
In the UK, the training required to spray professional pesticides starts with the theory certificate known as PA1. You will then need other PA certification depending on how you are going to deploy the spray. For example, PA6 covers hand held equipment and PA2 covers boom sprayers.
When using pesticides, customers must also take adequate steps to protect human health and the environment, including wearing the correct PPE.
If amateur users do wish to become qualified in the safe use of professional pesticides, then there are many providers nationwide able to deliver the relevant training, including organisations like LANTRA, and City and Guilds NPTC.
How do we communicate this to our customers?
Information relating to the safe use of pesticides is delivered on our website in three distinct ways:
- At the bottom of each relevant professional product page, we provide a full explanation regarding the Code of Use. This states clearly that by law, anyone who uses pesticides professionally must have received adequate training and be skilled in the job they are carrying out.
- On the ‘Add to Basket’ section of each relevant professional product page, we provide a Legal Disclaimer link, which when clicked will take customers to view the Code of Use explainer.
- Finally, we do not allow customers to check out with any relevant product unless they agree to the legal disclaimer, stating that they or the end user do indeed have the relevant training and skills.
If you have any concerns or questions relating to the use of pesticides, please contact our technical team for advice.
