13. Every application for a pesticide operator’s certificate shall be made in such form as the Director may provide and shall specify such particulars as the Director may require.
Director may require applicant to undergo medical examination, test or training
14.—(1) Upon receiving an application under rule 13, the Director may, for the purpose of satisfying himself that the applicant is sufficiently competent and in all other respects a fit and proper person to be entrusted to apply or otherwise use pesticides in the cultivation of plants safely, require the applicant —
(a)
to undergo a medical examination; and
(b)
to take and successfully complete such tests as the Director may set.
(2) The Director may require any applicant who does not possess the requisite qualification, training or practical experience in pesticide application to undergo such training as may be conducted by him prior to taking any test referred to in paragraph (1)(b).
Issue of certificate
15.—(1) Upon being satisfied that the applicant is sufficiently competent and in all other respects a fit and proper person to be entrusted to apply or otherwise use pesticides in the cultivation of plants safely and upon the payment of the appropriate fee specified in the First Schedule, the Director may issue a pesticide operator’s certificate to the applicant subject to such conditions as he may think fit to impose.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Director may, subject to such conditions as he may think fit to impose and upon the payment of the appropriate fee specified in the First Schedule, issue a provisional pesticide operator’s certificate to any applicant who has not attained the requisite qualification or acquired the requisite practical experience in pesticide application but who is undergoing any training referred to in rule 14(2).
(3) Every pesticide operator’s certificate or provisional pesticide operator’s certificate shall be in such form as the Director may determine.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the Director may refuse to issue a pesticide operator’s certificate or a provisional pesticide operator’s certificate without assigning any reason therefor.
(5) The Director may at any time add to, vary or revoke any of the conditions subject to which a pesticide operator’s certificate or a provisional pesticide operator’s certificate has been issued.
Duration of pesticide operator’s certificate
16.—(1) Subject to section 14 of the Act and rule 18, every pesticide operator’s certificate shall be valid for a period not exceeding 3 years and may be renewed upon its expiry.
(2) Every provisional pesticide operator’s certificate shall be valid for 6 months from the date of its issue.
Renewal, replacement, transfer and alteration of pesticide operator’s certificate
17. Rule 7 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a pesticide operator’s certificate and rules 9, 10 and 11 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a pesticide operator’s certificate and a provisional pesticide operator’s certificate as they apply to a licence.
Procedure on cancellation or suspension of pesticide operator’s certificate
18. Rule 12(2) to (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis upon the cancellation or suspension of a pesticide operator’s certificate or a provisional pesticide operator’s certificate under section 14 of the Act as they apply upon the cancellation or suspension of a licence under rule 12(1).