The individual certificate for plant protection products shall be a individual document attesting to the suitability of the holder to use, sell or buy plant protection products or to advise professionals.

This certificate aims to promote the use of alternatives, by encouraging the use of these products to be limited and by reducing the risks associated with their use.

The certificate is also called Certiphyto.

The products covered by the Certiphyto are plant protection products, i.e. synthetic products used in the fight against bioaggressors. This includes the following categories:

• Herbicides (against weeds)
• Fungicides (against cryptogamics or fungi)
• Insecticides (against pests).

The catalog of pesticides, biocides and fertilizers and their authorized uses can be consulted.

The Certiphyto concerns all persons handling plant protection products (use, sale or purchase) in a professional framework, as well as those exercising consulting activity.

All professional uses of plant protection products are concerned: agricultural or non-agricultural, forestry, industrial, organic, etc.

The companies subject to approval employing people buying or using these products in their work have the obligation to possess a Certiphyto.

This is not the case for those that are not subject to approval, as long as each person using plant protection products holds the Certiphyto.

It exists 5 types of Certiphytos :

• Advice on the use of plant protection products
• Free sale, sale and distribution of plant protection products
• Use of plant protection products in the category of decision-maker in company subject to approval (DESA)
• Use of plant protection products in the category of decision-maker in company not subject to approval (DENSA)
• Use of plant protection products in the operator category (OPE).

Certiphyto allows the use of all synthetic plant protection products in compliance with regulations.

The use of plant protection products in public spaces is restricted.

He is prohibited use or cause to be used plant protection products for the maintenance of green spaces, forests, walks and roads accessible or open to the public.

It is also prohibited use or hold plant protection products in places frequented by the public or for collective use, including private property.

Certiphyto can be obtained in 3 different ways:

• Either the applicant has a diploma less than 5 years old to obtain the Certiphyto. The list of diplomas to obtain a Certiphyto is available online.
• Or, if the applicant has a diploma older than 5 years and thinks he has the required knowledge, he can pass a test (duration: 1 hour 30 minutes) with an authorized training organization.
• Otherwise, the applicant must follow a training (duration: 14 to 28 hours) with an authorized training organization.

Each Certiphyto is valid 5 years.

After this period, if it is still in use, it must be renewed.

Some certiphytos allow the purchase and use of plant protection products from 1 to 3 years after their expiry date without any action to be taken. Holders of these certificates do not no need to carry out a renewal procedure to benefit from this extension.

Holders of a certificate of the category “decision-maker in company not subject to approval” (DENSA) expiring:

• Between April 10, 2024 and April 30, 2024, their certificate is extended by 3 times one year. This also applies to “decision-maker on the farm” (DEA) certificates.
• Between 1^er may 2024 and may 1, 2025 see their certificate extended by 2 times one year. This also applies to “decision-maker on the farm” (DEA) certificates.
• Between May 2, 2025 and May 1^er may 2026 sees their certificate extended by one year. This also applies to “decision-maker on the farm” (DEA) certificates.

Professionals whose DENSA and DEA certificates expire before 9 April 2024 are invited to consult the DRAAF Regional Training and Development Service.

Example: A DENSA or DEA certificate expiring on October 11, 2024 is valid until October 10, 2026. A DENSA or DEA certificate expiring on May 11, 2025 is valid until May 10, 2026.

Conditions for renewal of the Certiphyto

Renewal must be done within 12 months before the end of the validity of the Certiphyto. This avoids a gap between the end date of validity of the Certiphyto and the effective date of the renewed certificate.

The Certiphyto can be renewed in 3 different ways:

• If the degree is less than 5 years oldHowever, there is no need for testing or training to renew the Certiphyto. This diploma must be different the one recovered in the context of a previous application.
• If the degree is more than 5 years old and the applicant thinks he or she has the required knowledge, he or she can take a test (duration: 1 hour 30 minutes) with an authorized training organization.
• Otherwise, the applicant may follow a training (duration: 14 to 28 hours) with an authorized training organization.

For any information regarding the test or training, it is possible to inquire from the service of the Draaf: titleContent from its region:

Renewal process

After completing and validating the training (or diploma or test), the application must be made online.

A response to the request is issued within a maximum of 2 months.

Application for an individual professional certificate for plant protection products (Certiphyto or CI-phyto)

Some certiphytos allow the purchase and use of plant protection products from 1 to 3 years after their expiry date without any action to be taken. Holders of these certificates do not no need to carry out a renewal procedure to benefit from this extension.

Holders of a certificate of the category “decision-maker in company not subject to approval” (DENSA) expiring:

• Between April 10, 2024 and April 30, 2024, their certificate is extended by 3 times one year. This also applies to “decision-maker on the farm” (DEA) certificates.
• Between 1^er may 2024 and may 1, 2025 see their certificate extended by 2 times one year. This also applies to “decision-maker on the farm” (DEA) certificates.
• Between May 2, 2025 and May 1^er may 2026 sees their certificate extended by one year. This also applies to “decision-maker on the farm” (DEA) certificates.

Professionals whose DENSA and DEA certificates expire before 9 April 2024 are invited to consult the DRAAF Regional Training and Development Service.

Example: A DENSA or DEA certificate expiring on October 11, 2024 is valid until October 10, 2026. A DENSA or DEA certificate expiring on May 11, 2025 is valid until May 10, 2026.