Professional user of pesticides - Professional recognition process

Professional users of pesticides are people, who use pesticides in the course of their professional activity, especially users, technicians, employers and self-employed people in agriculture and other sectors. It is irrelevant, whether the activity is carried out with or without the intention of making a profit.
Professional users need a certificate of competence (certificate of training) for the use of pesticides, which complies with the conditions laid down in Article 5 of Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve a sustainable use of pesticides.

Process Sequence:

Submission of the application including the documents to the competent body. Examination by the NÖ Landes-Landwirtschaftskammer whether and to what extent the foreign qualification is equivalent. Notice by which equivalence is determined or any necessary adaptation courses or aptitude tests are planned.

There are no special deadlines to be noted.

In order to receive a certificate of competence, the respective person must be reliable and have technical knowledge and skills as defined in Annex I to Directive 2009/128/EC.

Recognized proofs of technical knowledge are:

1. the successful completion of an agricultural college specialising in agriculture or viticulture and cellar management or horticulture, vocational training in the field of agriculture, forestry, horticulture, field vegetable growing, viticulture or fruit growing, relevant commercial vocational training, a college of agriculture and forestry, a college of environmental economics or a university course in which plant protection was successfully completed as a course, or training as a greenkeeper according to Level 3 GTC Golf Course Supervisor or
2. a confirmation of successful participation in a training course organised by the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture or
3. a confirmation of a training course completed in another federal state or a training certificate from another federal state in accordance with the federal state's implementing provisions for Pflanzenschutzmittelgesetz 2011 or
4. a certificate of completion of training from an EU or EEA member state or the Swiss Confederation that has been recognised by NÖ Landes-Landwirtschaftskammer in accordance with § 9 NÖ PSMG, or
5. a certificate issued by another Member State of the European Union, EEA State or the Swiss Confederation in accordance with Article 5 of Directive 2009/128/EC in a certified translation if the certificate is not in the German language, or
6. the trade licence for the trade of pest control or
7. a confirmation of a completed course attendance or a certificate according to federal regulations.

Certificates of competence or training issued by an EU or EEA Member State or the Swiss Confederation may be recognised as equivalent to these requirements.

Required documents:

Certificates of competence or training issued by an EU or EEA Member State or the Swiss Confederation.

Costs and fees:

Federal fees:
€ 14.30 (for application), € 3.90 (per insert sheet) State administration fee:
Fixed stamp duty for the application and enclosures, state administrative fee for the granting of the licence.

NÖ Landes-Landwirtschaftskammer
Wiener Straße 64
3100 St. Pölten
E-Mail: office@lk-noe.at

Authentication or signature of the application is not required.

An appeal is possible against rulings issued by an authority and shall be filed by the party within a four weeks term with the authority that issued the ruling of first instance (against rulings without investigation procedure within a two weeks term). The term starts with the receipt of the written copy of the ruling, in the case of oral pronouncement simultaneously with it.

The appeal shall indicate the ruling it contests, the authority that issued the ruling and contain a motion of appeal with the reasons. No more appeal is admissible if the party expressly waived the right of appeal after receipt or pronouncement of the ruling.

Each ruling contains instructions on the right to appeal and indicates the authority and the deadline for submission of such appeal.

Point of single contact Niederösterreich https://eap.noe.gv.at/Start.aspx?lang=en

NÖ Landes-Landwirtschaftskammer
Wiener Straße 64
3100 St. Pölten
E-Mail: office@lk-noe.at

25.07.2023