. This will be required by the EU Directive on Sustainable Use of Pesticides now changed into UK law by the Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) regulations 2012.
As a result of the legislation, from November 2015 when a retailer sells a plant protection product a certificated member of staff must be contactable at the point of sale. This will ensure that the best advice is available to consumers on the safe use, storage and disposal of garden care products.
The training being developed by the HTA and CPA will be highly engaging, cost effective and easy to access (all online). It will be validated by Pershore College, providing the rigor to meet the accredited training provider status needed by the Chemical Regulations Directorate.
The e-learning will be available in 2014, providing retailers with plenty of time to demonstrate their adherence to this legislative requirement and embed the learning within their organisations before the implementation date.
David Evans, Crop Protection Association commented, ‘Working with the HTA on this legislative need compliments the existing in-depth Garden Care Certificate of Competence, BASIS Guardian courses and our website, www.garden-care.org.uk, giving retailers a three tier choice on the depth of knowledge their staff need for selling garden care chemicals. Whilst the e-learning will meet the legislative need it also acts as a great foundation for all sales assistants on the shop floor’.
Penny Evans, HTA Training and Careers Manager commented, ‘It is great to have two Associations investing and working so closely together from the policy/legislative aspect through to training, to ultimately take away the legislative pain for retailers. Penny adds, ‘Consumers thirst for up to date advice on plant health and protection methods is on the increase and those retailers providing this are becoming the retailers of choice’
