Training courses on the use of plant protection products

If you want to use plant protection products (PPP) of class 1 L and 2 L in Sweden you need to be approved and hold a certificate. To receive an approval you must attend a training course given by the County administrative board or the Swedish Board of Agriculture. There are courses on outdoor use, greenhouse use, seed treatment and treatment of plants in forest plantations.

The training courses vary in length for the different certificates. The outdoor and greenhouse use courses are four days long, the seed treatment course two days long and plants in forest plantations course is one day long. Attendance is mandatory and at the end of the course you have to pass a written test in order to be approved and receive a certificate. You need to be 18 years of age or older in order to be certified.

Certificates are valid for five years. If you want to renew your certificate this has to be done before the end of the five-year period by attending a one day course.

The Board of Agriculture maintains a record of all certified users with information on what courses they have taken and which certificates they hold. The information is kept for control purposes.

Qualifications from the EEA and Switzerland

Temporary practice in Sweden

If you are legally established and hold a certificate from another EEA country or Switzerland, you are also allowed to use PPP in Sweden without a Swedish certificate.

In the case of temporary practice, you must use the same professional title that you use in your home country. The title must be written in your own language. It must be obvious to the party using your services to apply PPP that you do not have a Swedish certificate.

What is considered temporary practice? Using PPP in Sweden for shorter periods, less than six months or during a growing season, without moving to the country permanently can be considered temporary.

Permanent practice in Sweden

If your work is not considered temporary you will need recognition of your professional qualification in order to be established as a user of PPP in Sweden. The Board of Agriculture is the responsible authority for recognizing professional qualifications and granting certificates for use of PPP. When you have received recognition of your professional qualifications and certificate for use of PPP, you will be entitled to use PPP on the same terms as if you had completed basic training here in Sweden. You can be considered established in the country if you move here permanently or set up an enterprise within the country.

Qualifications from countries outside the EEA and Switzerland

If you have training or experience from countries outside the EEA or Switzerland, you can also apply for recognition of your qualifications. Normally we recommend the complete basic Swedish training before giving a certificate to use class 1 L and 2 L pesticides for persons from outside the EEA or Switzerland.

How to apply for recognition

In order to apply for recognition and certification of your qualifications, please use the Board of Agriculture’s’ e-service (see the link below). To allow us to evaluate your professional qualifications, you need to include the following in your application:

• certificates of competence or proof of formal qualifications from your home country.
• document showing your age (copy of passport or other identity document)

Application for recognition of professional qualifications for use of plant protection products