ANNEX I

1. All relevant legislation regarding pesticides and their use.

2. The existence and risks of illegal (counterfeit) plant protection products, and the methods to identify such products.

3. The hazards and risks associated with pesticides, and how to identify and control them, in particular:

4. Notions on integrated pest management strategies and techniques, integrated crop management strategies and techniques, organic farming principles, biological pest control methods, information on the general principles and crop or sector-specific guidelines for integrated pest management.

5. Initiation to comparative assessment at user level to help professional users make the most appropriate choices on pesticides with the least side effects on human health, non-target organisms and the environment among all authorised products for a given pest problem, in a given situation.

6. Measures to minimise risks to humans, non-target organisms and the environment: safe working practices for storing, handling and mixing pesticides, and disposing of empty packaging, other contaminated materials and surplus pesticides (including tank mixes), whether in concentrate or dilute form; recommended way to control operator exposure (personal protection equipment).

7. Risk-based approaches which take into account the local water extraction variables such as climate, soil and crop types, and relieves.

8. Procedures for preparing pesticide application equipment for work, including its calibration, and for its operation with minimum risks to the user, other humans, non-target animal and plant species, biodiversity and the environment, including water resources.

9. Use of pesticide application equipment and its maintenance, and specific spraying techniques (e.g. low-volume spraying and low-drift nozzles), as well as the objectives of the technical check of sprayers in use and ways to improve spray quality. Specific risks linked to use of handheld pesticide application equipment or knapsack sprayers and the relevant risk management measures.

10. Emergency action to protect human health, the environment including water resources in case of accidental spillage and contamination and extreme weather events that would result in pesticide leaching risks.

11. Special care in protection areas established under Articles 6 and 7 of Directive 2000/60/EC.

12. Health monitoring and access facilities to report on any incidents or suspected incidents.

13. Record keeping of any use of pesticides, in accordance with the relevant legislation.