Commercial Operator Licence
If you operate a business that provides a commercial spraying service you must hold a Commercial Operator Licence.
This includes businesses that provide:
broadacre agricultural spraying
forestry spray contracting
roadside weed spraying
insect, disease or weed control in lawns and gardens
insect and rodent control in and around homes and buildings
The licence applies to any business that uses agricultural chemical products to control pests and which receives payment, fee or reward for this service.
The Commercial Operator License acts as a business licence and is issued to the individual who owns/operates the business.
For information on how to obtain a licence contact the AgVet Chemicals Program.
Application for Commercial Operator Licence (105Kb)
Exemption from Commercial Operator Licence
You do not require a licence if your business only uses a "small amount" of chemical product and this use is incidental to the main purpose of the business. Lawn
mowing and garden maintenance is a good example:you would be considered to use
a small amount if you only use products that are registered, labelled, and
packaged for home garden use.
Generally, home garden products are limited to small packs of low-toxicity
products eg. 1 litre packs of glyphosate or 500 ml packs of pyrethrum
insecticide. They are labelled and packaged especially for the home garden and
are available from nurseries and gardening/hardware stores.
Certificates of Competency
If you apply agricultural chemical products for a commercial spraying business, you must hold a Certificate of Competency that is relevant to the type of work you do.
Application for a Certificate of Competency to use agricultural and/or Veterinary Chemicals (PDF 290Kb)
Certificates of Competency may be issued to operators who have completed recognised accredited training in the use of agricultural chemicals.
A certificate will specify the types of spraying work you may do. For instance, weed control in forestry and non-cropping situations, or insect pest, disease and weed control in cropping situations.
The types of certificates that may be issued are:
| Category 1 | Hand held equipment, small volumes (<2L or 2kg) per year of herbicide concentrate registered for home garden use |
| Category 2 | Hand held equipment, larger volumes of herbicides, insecticides etc.
Application of vertebrate pest poisons |
| Category 3 | Motorised application equipment eg. boom spray, airblast. |
Pest Management
Technician | Pest control in and around buildings - rodents, ants, wasps etc. |
Methyl Bromide/
Phosphine User | Application of fumigants - glasshouses, quarantine etc. |
Training Requirements
Ground Spraying
To qualify for a Category 2 or Category 3 Certificate of Competency you must complete a recognised course in agvet chemical use that includes the units:
AHCCHM307 – Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases; and
AHCCHM304 – Transport and store chemicals
These units are from the Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management training package (training providers include a number of registered training organisations (RTOs)).
Pest Management Technician
Any person wishing to obtain a Pest Management Technician Certificate of Competency in Tasmania must be assessed as being competent on the three core units of competency listed below.
This training and assessment conforms to the required competency standard recommended in the National Licensing Standard for Pest Management Technicians.
Training and assessment consists of theory and practical elements with qualified assessors who have actual experience in the pest management industry assessing new applicants for issue of Pest Management Certificates of Competency.
The three core units of the Pest Management - Technical training from the Asset Maintenance Training Package (Certificate III) are:
CPPUPM3005 - Modify environment to manage pests;
CPPUPM3006 - Manage pests by applying pesticides; and
CPPUPM3018 - Maintain equipment and pesticide storage area in pest management vehicles.
Please note: there is no training for Pest Management Technicians available in Tasmania. Training must be completed by a registered training organisation. Please contact the AgVet Chemicals Program for further information (details below).
Methyl Bromide or Phosphine User
A Methyl Bromide or Phosphine User may use methyl bromide or phosphine for fumigation purposes. Training requires completion of a relevant recognised course or adequate on-the-job training.
Exemption from Certificate of Competency
You may not be required to hold a Certificate of Competency if you only apply chemicals on your employer's property. This would apply to employees like farm hands or council workers who only apply agricultural chemicals on their employer's land.
Supervision of New or Casual Employees
A new or casual employee of a Commercial Operator may be able to spray agricultural chemicals for the business for up to 4 weeks before obtaining a Certificate of Competency.