Cost
£435 Face to Face
or £400 online
(+ VAT if based in UK)
Course resources, Exam/Assessment and Certificate included in the fee.
Duration
1 day Face to Face
2 half-days Online
9am to 5pm F2F (UK time)
9am to 1pm Online (UK time)
Location
Online or UK Bedfordshire
*If you require Face-to-Face training, please contact us to discuss your need.
Available public sessions
October 16, 2025 (Face to Face, Bedfordshire)
March 5, 2026 (Face to Face, Bedfordshire)
June 11-12, 2026 (Online, mornings only)
October 15, 2026 (Face to Face, Bedfordshire)
If you wish to organise a private session, please contact us to discuss your need.
Assessment
Knowledge Check Quiz
At the end of the course.
Pass Mark 75%
Certificate of Achievement emailed to you within 2 weeks of successfully completing the exam.
BASIS Points awarded for attending the day: 12
Please confirm in advance if these are required.
Course Summary
This Managing Pesticides in Fresh Produce training course is aimed at Technical Managers who have regular contact with retailers in the UK.
The course will be highly participative and will use practical examples to enable learning to be easily applied to real business situations.
Key learning objectives
Know the different types of pesticides, how they work and methods of application
Understand EU pesticide legislation, how its implementation affects us now and what is expected in the future
Ability to take representative samples for residue testing and interpret results
Evaluate laboratories to select the most appropriate and understand how the analysis is conducted
Analyse data to develop a residue testing plan and risk-assess suppliers
Who should attend
Technical Managers in Fresh Produce working with UK retailers
Those in charge of Supplier Approval in Fresh Produce
Pre-requisites
There are no entry requirements to this course.
Programme Outline
Discovery, Safety and Legislation
Review of the situation in the UK and EU.
Pesticide registration and what to do when countries do not have registration schemes.
Future direction of legislation.
Testing, Alerts and Laboratory Selection
Evaluate laboratories to select the right one and know how the analysis is conducted.
Understand the importance of RASFFs and how to take action.
PRiF reporting and Measurement of uncertainty.
Sampling Procedures
How to take a representative sample.
Quantity required and specific watch-outs.
The Good and Bad of Farm Visits
Know what to look out for on farm visits.
Understand how harvest intervals are recorded and can be verified.
Know the significance of counterfeit pesticides.
Certification, GAP, Organics and PPUs
Understand the different types of GAP schemes and how they operate.
Know the principles of EU organic standards.
Evaluate Plant Protection Product Lists (PPPL).
Understand reference sources available to support decision making.
Know how to apply for a derogation.
Residue Testing Plans and Risk Assessment
Understand the different pesticide groups and critical changes to pesticide approval/ MRL changes.
Know how to develop a pesticide residue testing plan and complete the risk assessment.
Evaluate the potential for biopesticides as an alternative to chemical pesticides.
Crisis Management of Residue Exceedance
Understand historical pesticide exceedances and how to investigate them.
Know how to assess the significance of an MRL exceedance using toxicological data.
Know how to reduce the risk of exceedances.
Know how to take appropriate action if you have an exceedance.
Knowledge Check Quiz
Conclusions & Close
There will be time afterwards to discuss any specific issues with the team if you wish.
Instructor credentials
The course is delivered by Ian Finlayson (experienced technical manager, government PRiF member) and/or Debbie Winstanley (experienced agronomist, government PRiF member)
How to book and pay
You can book your space directly on the website. Go to the booking section, click on the session of your choice and follow the instructions to pay by card. VAT will not be added at checkout if you're booking from outside of the UK.
If you want to pay on invoice, simply email us!
What happens once your space has been booked
Before the course
A few days before the course starts, participants are given access by email to the necessary pre-course information.
For online sessions, to ensure smooth participation, the delegates need to make sure before the course starts that they have a stable internet connection, a fully charged device, and a working camera and microphone.
If you have any questions at all in the run up to your course, feel free to get in touch.
During the course
At ASK SONIA, we’re all about creating a positive, interactive and impactful learning experience.
To help foster an open and friendly yet professional group atmosphere during the online sessions - unless your tutor specifically instructs you otherwise - we ask that, as much as possible all participants keep their camera and microphone on throughout the course. This helps everyone engage, ask questions, and contribute to discussions. It’s all part of making our sessions dynamic, interactive, and personal, so that you get the most out of your training!
If you are unable to join at the very start of a session, please have the courtesy to inform your trainer or to email us.
After the course
If you would like to keep in touch with us after the course, we’d love that! If we can be of further advice, guidance or support with your professional project, we will be delighted. Ask Sonia Limited is a small business. We take great pride in our very personable and caring approach to professional training. So don’t be a stranger, and don’t be shy.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
We understand that sometimes life gets in the way, and we aim to be as flexible as possible. If you wish to reschedule your course, just send us an email as soon as possible. In most cases we are able and happy to move your booking at no extra cost. Where this might not be possible, we will discuss with you the options available in order to find the best solution to suit your needs.
Please note the following Course Specific Terms which supersede the General T&Cs.
Cancellations:
Candidates can be rebooked on to a subsequent course if 4 weeks notice is given,
2- 4 weeks notice a 50% charge is made,
less than 2 weeks a 100% charge is made.
Reviews and Testimonials
See what previous participants thought of their learning experience with Ask Sonia Limited 😊
