Managing Pesticides in Fresh Produce and Flowers
2025 Course dates: 6th March (in person, Bedfordshire), 13th March (in person, Dublin), 11th & 12th June (mornings only, online), 16th October (in person, Bedfordshire)
LAST TWO SPACES REMAINING 6TH AND 13TH MARCH
Tutors: Ian Finlayson (experienced technical manager, government PRiF member) and Debbie Winstanley (experienced agronomist, government PRiF member)
Managing Pesticides in Fresh Produce and Flowers training is aimed at Technical Managers who have daily contact with retailers in the UK. The course will be highly participative and will use practical examples to enable learning to be easily applied to real business situations.
Learning Outcomes
- Know the different types of pesticides, how they work and methods of application
- Understand EU pesticide legislation, how its implementation affects us now and what is expected in the future
- Ability to take representative samples for residue testing and interpret results
- Evaluate laboratories to select the most appropriate and understand how the analysis is conducted
- Analyse data to develop a residue testing plan and risk-assess suppliers
What attendees are saying
“An excellent course for ensuring our new team members have a sound understanding of the fundamentals of managing pesticide residue testing programmes and the associated risks.”
“I thoroughly recommend Ian’s course for any technical professionals working with fresh produce who wish to gain a greater understanding of pesticide management and risks. Practical, informative and relevant.”
“This course taught the background to their use, the legislation around their approval and practical applications when testing products and understanding what the test results mean.”
Other details
Cost: £435 in person (including lunch), £400 online (ex. VAT)
BASIS Points awarded: 12 (please confirm in advance if these are required)
Cancellation Policy
- 4+ weeks notice: Candidates can rebook for another course
- 2–4 weeks notice: 50% charge
- <2 weeks notice: 100% charge
Course Content Outline
Discovery, Safety and Legislation- Review of the situation in the UK and EU.
- Pesticide registration and what to do when countries do not have registration schemes.
- Future direction of legislation.
- Evaluate laboratories to select the right one and know how the analysis is conducted.
- Understand the importance of RASFFs and how to take action.
- PRiF reporting and Measurement of uncertainty.
- How to take a representative sample.
- Quantity required and specific watch-outs.
- Know what to look out for on farm visits.
- Understand how harvest intervals are recorded and can be verified.
- Know the significance of counterfeit pesticides.
- Understand the different types of GAP schemes and how they operate.
- Know the principles of EU organic standards.
- Evaluate Plant Protection Product Lists (PPPL).
- Understand reference sources available to support decision making.
- Know how to apply for a derogation.
- Understand the different pesticide groups and critical changes to pesticide approval/ MRL changes.
- Know how to develop a pesticide residue testing plan and complete the risk assessment.
- Evaluate the potential for biopesticides as an alternative to chemical pesticides.
- Understand historical pesticide exceedances and how to investigate them.
- Know how to assess the significance of an MRL exceedance using toxicological data.
- Know how to reduce the risk of exceedances.
- Know how to take appropriate action if you have an exceedance.
There will be time afterwards to discuss any specific issues with the team if you wish.