German Farmers Urged to Check Pesticide Competence Certificate Deadlines
Professional pesticide users in Germany must hold a competence certificate that stays valid only with refresher training every three years. Without it, the certificate is suspended and fines of up to 50,000 euros are possible.
Farmers and other professional users of plant protection products in Germany should check the deadlines of their competence certificates before the year ends. A 9 November article by the agricultural portal agrarheute reminds readers that this document, a nationally uniform bank-card-sized licence (in German, Sachkundenachweis, or SKN), is mandatory, and that its validity depends on regular further training.
Who needs the certificate
Under Section 9 of Germany's Plant Protection Act, the certificate must be shown by anyone who applies or sells plant protection products, gives advice on them, or instructs or supervises people without the qualification. It must also be presented when buying products from online shops.
What happens without training
If the proof of training cannot be shown during an inspection, the certificate is suspended immediately. From that day, products may not be bought, applied or advised on. If the proof is still missing after a deadline set by the authorities, a fee-bearing order follows and ultimately the licence is revoked. Fines of up to 50,000 euros can also be imposed.
Training requirements
In every three-year period, a recognised course of at least four hours is required. It can be taken in person or online, and providers include public authorities, agricultural chambers and private organisations. Two topics are mandatory: legal foundations and integrated plant protection.
Fixed schedule
The periods are rigidly set, and the date of attendance does not shift them. For people who obtained their certification before 14 February 2012 and whose card shows 1 January 2013 as the start of the first training period, the current period runs from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027. The obligation continues even if a farmer temporarily does not spray any products.
The article advises checking the date on the card and the proof of the latest training, and keeping the documents together in one folder.
