11 November 2009

Get trained – Get legal – Get Pelletwise!

There is an urgent need to get more slug pelleting operators legally trained according to the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group’s Chairman Dr David Cameron.

“It is essential that every operator applying slug pellets abides by the law and that means having the proper training,” he says, pointing to the launch this month of official new training seminars.

“It is essential that no one who is untrained, including those who hold only a PA2 certificate [issued after June 1994], goes out pelleting. That also applies to those born prior to 1965 where operations can be legally made under ‘Grandfather Rights’ who must still have been trained. To apply slug pellets all other operators must hold a PA4 certificate.

“The cloud looming over the future of metaldehyde slug pellets – used by 80% of farmers applying pellets – has not gone away,” warns Dr Cameron. “Only by lowering the metaldehyde levels detected in raw water by the water companies can we show that agriculture can use slug pellet pesticides responsibly.”
 
The official new seminars offer the chance to improve understanding of the risks surrounding slug pellet treatments and practical measures to ensure accurate application and handling. For those with an existing PA2 certificate (post 1994) a new PA4S certificate will be issued to those attending and then passing the post seminar exam.

It is also an opportunity for those already legally qualified (ie. holders of PA1 and with PA4 or PA2 gained pre June 1994) to update their knowledge on slug pelleting practice. They will receive a PA4S certificate to prove attendance and passing the exam. It will also be of use to those operating on ‘Grandfather Rights’ who may never have received formal ‘PA’ training.

City & Guilds NPTC senior manager Steve Hewitt explains that the seminars offer an important opportunity for every operator to ‘GetPelletwise’.

He adds that while the training seminars are starting now, the second phase of the new training plans will begin in January 2010 when the new PA4S unit formally becomes part of all PA4 operator training that previously omitted the slug pelleting programme.

“This means that while those with existing PA certificates can take immediate advantage of gaining the PA4S unit for life, those with no previous training must still achieve the PA1,” he says. “And if those previously untrained operators then attend and pass the slug pelleting seminar and exam they can go on to legally apply slug pellets but only up to July 2011. After that time the new PA4S practical assessment must also have been completed.”

The seminars attract six Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. These are eligible for the both the National Register of Sprayer Operators (NroSO) and the BASIS Professional Register.

PA4S confirmed training dates

- 16 November    Wootton Bassett, Swindon
- 17 November    Ledbury, Herefordshire
- 17 November    South Yorkshire or Goole, East Yorkshire
- 18 November    Gamston, Retford
- 18 November    Nr Cirencester
- 18 November    Wroxeter, Shrewsbury
- 20 November    Kilmarnock, Scotland
- 23 November    Dorking
- 23 November    Kirton in Lindsay, Nth LIncs
- 24 November    Wansford, Peterborough
- 25 November    South Yorkshire or Goole, East Yorkshire
- 25 November    Morpeth, Northumberland
- 25 November    Leominster, Herefordshire
- 26 November    Leeds,  N.Yorks
- 27 November    Alnwick, Northumberland
- 1 December      Gamston, Retford
- 1 December      Yeovil, Somerset
- 3 December      Myerscough College
- 8 December      Northallerton, North Yorks
- 8 December      Staffs County Show Ground
- 22 December    Aberdeen, Scotland
- 21 January         Myerscough College
- 26 January         Pocklington, East Yorks

Alternatively, visit www.nptc.org.uk to contact your local training provider or distributor.

-ends-

Issued by Catherine Linch, Pinstone Communications Ltd on behalf of the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group. Tel: 01568 617622 / catherine@pinstone.co.uk 

For more information contact Steve Hewitt of NPTC on 024 7685 7348 / steve.hewitt@nptc.org.uk or Dr David Cameron of the Metaldehyde Stewardship Group: 01223 811215 / david@desangosse.co.uk 

Further information

Visit www.getpelletwise.co.uk for more information on the metaldehyde stewardship issues.

The Metaldehyde Stewarship Group (MSG) comprises of Lonza (the principal manufacturer of the active ingredient) and slug pellet formulators Certis, Chiltern Farm Chemicals, De Sangosse, Doff Portland, Frunol Delicia, Makhteshim Agan and SBM.