Individual certificate for plant protection products (Certiphyto or CI-phyto)
Verified 11 April 2025 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister), Ministry of Agriculture
One-year extension of certain certiphytos
Holders of a certificate in the category ‘decision-maker in company not subject to approval’ (DENSA) expiring between 10 april 2024 and 1er may 2026 certificate extended by one year. This also applies to farm decision-maker (FDO) certiphytos.
Example: A DENSA or DEA certificate expiring on October 11, 2025 is valid until October 11, 2026.
These certiphytos make it possible to buy and use plant protection products one year after their expiry date without any action to be taken. The holders of these certiphytos have no renewal process is required to benefit from this extension.
Possession of a individual certificate for plant protection products (Certiphyto) is required for use, advise, sell or buy plant protection products, also known as phytopharmaceuticalsin the course of his professional activity. It is obtained either by taking a training course or by passing a diploma or a test.
The individual certificate for plant protection products shall be a individual document attesting to the holder's ability to use, sell or buy plant protection products or to advise professionals.
This certificate aims to promote the use of alternatives, by providing an incentive to limit the use of these products and by reducing the risks associated with their use.
The certificate is also called Certiphyto.
The products concerned by the Certiphyto are plant protection products, i.e. synthetic products used in the fight against bioaggressors. This includes:
- The herbicides (weed control)
- The fungicides (against cryptogamics or fungi)
- The insecticides (against insect pests).
Please note
Certiphyto is not required for chemical mediators (pheromones, kairomones, natural substances of plant, animal or mineral origin).
The catalog of pesticides, biocides and fertilizing materials and their authorized uses can be consulted.
The Certiphyto concerns all persons handling plant protection products (use, sale or purchase) in a professional setting, and those exercising consultancy.
All professional uses of plant protection products are concerned: agricultural or non-agricultural, forestry, industrial, biological, etc.
Example :
Park and public garden, cemetery, sports or recreation field, road and sidewalk, industrial area, military field, airport, railways, laboratory experimentation, etc.
The companies subject to approval employing people buying or using these products in their work are required to have a Certiphyto.
This is not the case for those not subject to approval, as long as each person using the plant protection products holds the Certiphyto.
Example :
Professional in agricultural distribution, service provision and advice, manager and salesman in gardening, farmer and agricultural worker, forestry, agent of local authorities.
Please note
Since 2019, amateur gardeners can no longer use or possess plant protection products except for low-risk substances and products authorized for organic farming. These products used by an individual in the context of gardening are not covered by 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 decision-making category in company subject to approval (DESA)
- Use of plant protection products in the decision-making category in company not subject to approval (DENSA)
- Use of plant protection products in the operator category (OPE).
The use of plant protection products in public spaces is restricted.
He is forbidden 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 forbidden use or possession of 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 for obtaining a certificate is available online.
- Or, if the applicant has a diploma over 5 years old and thinks he has the required knowledge, he can pass a test (duration: 1 hour 30 minutes) at an authorized training organization.
- Otherwise, the applicant must follow a training (duration: 14 to 28 hours) with an authorized training organization.
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Diploma less than 5 years old
The list of diplomas for obtaining a certificate is available online.
The diploma must be from under 5 years.
The application must be made online by submitting the scanned diploma.
The request shall then receive a response within a maximum of 2 months.
Testing
Where the diploma is more than 5 years old and the applicant believes that he has the required knowledge, he may take a test with an authorized training body.
The test lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.
It is possible to ask for information from the department dedicated to the training of Draaf: titleContent from his region:
Who shall I contact
The application must be made online by submitting the certificate of success to the scanned test:
The request shall then receive a response within a maximum of 2 months.
Training
It is also possible to receive training from an authorized training organization.
It lasts between 14 and 28 hours depending on the type of Certiphyto. The training includes an assessment.
It is possible to ask for information from the Draaf: titleContent from his region:
Who shall I contact
The online application for a certificate is made by submitting the scanned training certificate.
The request shall then receive a response within a maximum of 2 months.
Each Certiphyto is valid 5 years.
After this time limit, if it is still in use, it must be renewed.
FYI
Holders of a Certiphyto of the category ‘decision-maker in company not subject to approval’ (DENSA) expiring between 10 april 2024 and 1er may 2026 certificate extended by one year. This also applies to Certiphytos “decision-maker on agricultural holding” (DEA).
Example: A Certiphyto DENSA or DEA expiring on October 11, 2025 is valid until October 11, 2026.
These Certiphytos make it possible to buy and use plant protection products one year after their expiry date without any action to be taken. The holders of these Certiphytos have no renewal process is required to benefit from this extension.
Conditions for renewal of the Certiphyto
Renewal must be made within 12 months before the expiry of the Certiphyto. This avoids a period of interruption between the end of validity of the Certiphyto and the effective date of the renewed certificate.
The Certiphyto can be renewed in 3 different ways:
- If the diploma less than 5 years oldHowever, there is no need for testing or training to renew the Certiphyto. This diploma must be different of the one recovered under a previous application.
- If the diploma is more than 5 years old and the applicant thinks he has the required knowledge, he can pass a test (duration: 1 hour 30 minutes) at an authorized training organization.
- Alternatively, the applicant may follow a training (duration: 14 to 28 hours) at an authorized training organization.
For more information as for the test or training, it is possible to inquire at the Draaf: titleContent from his region:
Who shall I contact
Strategic advice requirement for DENSA renewals
The renewal of the Certiphyto ‘decision-makers in company not subject to approval’ (DENSA) for 5 years can only be obtained if the applicant presents a attestation. This justifies the need for strategic advice the use of plant protection products has been granted, subject to exceptions.
Strategic advice is required for each company or operation, and may include multiple names. Each person mentioned is considered to have had strategic advice in the context of the renewal of the Certiphyto.
If a strategic advice has been issued to the company or operation, but the name of the person required to have a Certiphyto for his/her activity is not indicated on the attestation, that person must apply to his/her employer to issue a certificate stating that he is working on his holding.
There are several exemptions to the requirement to issue strategic advice in the context of the renewal for DENSA certificates.
Supporting document to be submitted in order to benefit from the exemption | |
|---|---|
The applicant shall operate on a holding certified as organic farming, in conversion to organic farming or high environmental value (level 3) for all its areas | The applicant shall have available the certification of his holding. If the name of the applicant is mentioned, no further supporting documents are required. If the name is not mentioned above, the applicant must have an attestation from his employer that he is working on the farm. |
The applicant shall operate on a farm using only bio-control products, composite commodities, low-risk products or products used to control a regulated organism | The applicant shall have available his company’s register of use of plant protection products to justify his non-use of other products. The applicant must have a certificate from his employer stating that he works for this company. |
The applicant shall perform alternative service | The applicant must have a certificate from his employer stating that he is working in replacement service. |
The applicant has started or resumed a farm for less than 3 years. The applicant is also concerned if he is employed on a holding meeting this criterion. | The applicant must have a document attesting to the resumption of operation (authorization to operate) or creation of a company to attest to the period of less than 3 years. If the applicant's name is not indicated on this document, he must have a certificate from his employer stating that he works for this company. |
The applicant is employed within an approved company "Good Experimental Practice" (BPE) | The applicant must have at his disposal the certificate proving the approval of his company. If his name is not indicated on this document, he must have a certificate from his employer stating that he works for this company. |
Temporary derogation and obtaining a provisional certificate
A waiver is provided until December 31, 2027. It is possible to obtain a provisional certificate valid for 1 year in the absence of strategic advice. Then you have to provide proof of appointment with an advisor licensed to carry out the strategic advice of the company or farm. A one-year certificate is then issued, allowing the applicant to benefit from an additional year to carry out his strategic advice.
Please note
The transitional arrangement is extended until 31 December 2028 in Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion, Mayotte, Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin. In addition, the applicant has no need to send proof of appointment booking if he is domiciled in one of those territories.
At the end of this year, a new renewal application must be tabled. The interim certificate will be extended for an additional 4 years upon presentation of the certificate justifying the issuance of the strategic advice.
Renewal process
After having completed and validated the training (or diploma or test) and, for the persons concerned, obtained strategic advice, the application must be made online.
A response to the request shall be issued within a maximum period of 2 months.
FYI
Holders of a Certiphyto of the category ‘decision-maker in company not subject to approval’ (DENSA) expiring between 10 april 2024 and 1er may 2026 certificate extended by one year. This also applies to Certiphytos “decision-maker on agricultural holding” (DEA).
Example: A Certiphyto DENSA or DEA expiring on October 11, 2025 is valid until October 11, 2026.
These Certiphytos make it possible to buy and use plant protection products one year after their expiry date without any action to be taken. The holders of these Certiphytos have no renewal process is required to benefit from this extension.
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Find who can answer your questions in your region
Guidelines for the use of plant protection products
Conditions of use of plant protection products
Conditions for the issue of Certiphytos
One-year extension of the Certiphytos DENSA (until May 2025)
One more year extension of the Certiphytos DENSA (expiring until May 2026)
Supporting documents required for the purchase of plant protection products in the ‘professional’ range of uses
Details concerning the Certiphyto for consultancy
Certiphyto exemption for organic farms, organic conversion and HVE level 3
Certificate renewed 1 year on proof of appointment for delivery of strategic advice
National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Safety (ANSES)
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture