The general objective of BTSF is to ensure a high level of consumer protection at the EU market and provide guarantees of the food from non-EU countries.
In order to achieve this objective, BTSF programme is designed predominantly to train staff of competent authorities of the EU Member States involved in official control activities, offering an adequate network and enhance dialogue between trainees coming from different locations within EU and with trainees from outside the European Union, contributing to exchange experiences and raise the level of knowledge in the technical field covered.
In addition, training on inspection and calibration of pesticide application equipment aims at promoting uniformity of inspection procedures, ensure an adequate use of the technology, and establish professional networking among participants.
Training activities on inspection and calibration of plant protection product application equipment in professional use have been arranged in compliance with the provisions of Directive 2009/128/EC under the Better Training for Safer Food initiative. Six three-day courses will be organized in 2019 and 2020 at the selected locations to train 120 official representatives of the EU MS and Candidate Countries.
The overall objectives of the BTSF Training Programme on Pesticide application equipment are:
Topics included in the program are mainly focused on related with the mandatory inspection of sprayers in use in EU and also the important aspects related with calibration of the sprayers. According to the Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) (128/2009/CE) as official procedure of the inspections, the situation of new ISO standards, administrative procedure, technical requirements and differences among EU members should be addressed during the three days courses. Linked to that, and also following the SUD statement concerning calibration of sprayers, aspects as nozzle selection process, determination of the optimal volume rate, drift reduction and good agricultural practices will be included. Precision agriculture has been also included as a part of the program, giving to the attendants some guidelines about the state of the art and possibilities of the use of new technologies to improve the pesticide application process. The program has been organized in a logical order combining administrative, technical and practical aspects. Workshops, discussion sessions and case studies have been selected and programmed to make more attractive and profitable the course for the attendants.
According to the mandatory topics specified in the official call published by DG SANTÉ, the following topics will be addressed during the 3-day training course (2 full days and 2 half days):
Staff of competent authorities involved in official control activities from the EU Member States, potential candidate countries and EFTA/EEA.
