Using Plant Protection Products (PPPs)
and Adjuvants on Organic Farms

UPDATE - January 2023
(This article has been updated from the original, 7 June 2022)

Businesses and other organisations that use PPPs professionally in Great Britain, or have them applied by a third party, are legally required to register with Defra.

The registration deadline for existing users was 22 June 2022, however it is still possible to register as a professional user of PPPs. If you started using PPPs professionally more than 3 months ago, you should have registered already and must do so as soon as possible.

New users should register within 3 months of starting business. If you have already registered, you do not need to take any further action.

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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced that if you use professional PPPs and adjuvants on your organic farm you are now required to register as a business, organisation or sole trader that uses professional PPPs and any adjuvants in Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales).

The following text is taken from Defra's How to register as a user of professional plant protection products (PPPs) and adjuvants.

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You must register if you are a business, organisation or sole trader that uses PPPs and any adjuvants professionally in Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales).

This includes you if you:

• use PPPs and any adjuvants as part of your work
• have PPPs and any adjuvants applied by a third party as part of your work in agriculture, horticulture, amenities or forestry
• are a contractor hired to store or apply PPPs and any adjuvants for others
• are a volunteer and you apply PPPs and adjuvants during your work, for example at amateur sports clubs

You do not need to register if you use amateur PPPs in your garden. This form is for professional users.

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PPPs are used to control pests, weeds and disease, these include:

• insecticides;
• herbicides;
• fungicides;
• molluscicides;
• plant growth regulators.

PPPs can be used with adjuvants. An adjuvant is a substance that enhances or is intended to enhance a PPP’s effectiveness. An adjuvant does not have significant pesticidal properties but is still subject to regulatory control.

When completing the form (for registration) you will need to state which sector(s) you work in.

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Agriculture and horticulture

This includes work in agriculture or horticulture, such as farming or maintaining arable crops, forage crops or livestock, or treating seeds.)

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Amenity, Forestry

If you are registered with an assurance scheme such as Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G) you will need to note this on the relevant section of the form. Those not registered with an assurance scheme will need to leave this section blank (you are receiving this email as an OF&G licensee so you will at least need to note this).

How to register

Download and fill in a form to register as a business, organisation or sole trader that uses professional PPPs and any adjuvants in Great Britain.

There are 2 formats of the form - please choose the one most suitable for you to complete.

Once completed you must send it to Defra at the email address below and not to OF&G.

Returning the form

Save the completed form as an OpenDocument (.ods) or Excel (.xls) file.
Email the file to GB-OCR-notification@defra.gov.uk
If your company closes after registering, you must notify GB-OCR-closures@defra.gov.uk

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Help with the form

For help with the form you need to email Defra, and not OF&G, using the subject line ‘OCR-PPP registration query’ or telephone the helpline.
Email: defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk
Call the helpline: 03459 33 55 77
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm
Find out about call charges.

Further details and the form for registration can be found by following the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/professional-plant-protection-products-ppps-register-as-a-user

How to register as a user of professional plant protection products (PPPs) and adjuvants:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/professional-plant-protection-products-ppps-register-as-a-user/how-to-register-as-a-user-of-professional-plant-protection-products-ppps-and-adjuvants

The Official Controls (Plant Protection Products) Regulations 2020: policy statement:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-official-controls-plant-protection-products-regulations-2020-policy-statement/the-official-controls-plant-protection-products-regulations-2020-policy-statement