New spraying body formed

NRoSO Goes Live

Since 1^st January 2003, applications for membership of NRoSO are being processed and staff at NPTC are primed for many enquiries in the future.

Background

The stakeholders in the Voluntary Initiative agreed with the Government to set up a central register of active certificated spray operators using continuing professional development (CPD) as a means of ensuring ongoing training. This industry initiative is intended to demonstrate to Government that only responsible users apply pesticides and thereby minimise environmental risk. The NRoSO scheme was launched initially on 25^th June, 2002 by Lord Whitty at Sprays and Sprayers and the NPTC has spent the past six months, seeking further industry support and establishing the policies and procedures required to enable the scheme to operate successfully.

Featuresof the scheme are;

• · Membership is valid for a three-year period (initially from 1 January 2003).
• · Membership costs £50 i.e. £15/year plus £5 registration
• · 30 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points to be collected in each three-year period for renewal of membership
• · CPD points will need to be collected in the following 3 categories: Environment, Application

Practice, Crop Protection

Eligibility

The National Register of Sprayer Operators is open to all those qualified to apply pesticides by virtue of;

• · Holder of an appropriate NPTC PA certificate
• · Exempt from holding a certificate under COPR1986 (as amended) i.e. grandfather rights (born before 31^st December 1964)

Recent Activity

The NRoSO Advisory Board, which advises the NPTC on matters relating to the NRoSO, met for the second time on 18^th December 2002. The Board agreed that NRoSO members will be entitled to record meetings with Agronomists/Technical Advisors and that this will be eligible to a maximum of 12 CPD points over three years.

Further information

Application forms and further details are available from:

The NRoSO Administrator, National Proficiency Tests Council

National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 24 76 696 553,

Fax: +44 (0) 24 7669 6128,

Email: information@nroso.org.uk
Web: http://www.nptc.org.uk