Pesticides Trading

Natural persons are eligible to apply and obtain the license for a Pesticides Salesperson in the Republic of Cyprus, provided that the Plant Protection Products and Biocides Board is satisfied that the following criteria are met:

• owns or is employed by a licensed Pesticides store according to the Pest Control Products Regulations 2003;
• is registered Agriculturist according to the Agriculturists Registration Law; or
• is a holder of a secondary school leaving certificate and pass a written examination organized by the Pest Control Products Board.

The application form for a license or for the renewal of a license for a Pesticides Salesperson can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or you can contact directly the competent authority:

The Plant Protection Products and Biocides Board
Agrochemicals and Feedingstuffs Section
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
1412 Nicosia
Tel.: +357 22408633, +357 22408642
Fax: +357 22408538
E-mail: agrochemicals@da.moa.gov.cy
Website: http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/da/da.nsf

1. The application should be accompanied by the following documents:

   • copy of a secondary school leaving certificate (only in the case that the interested person is not a registered agriculturist according to the Pest Control Products Law);
   • copy of a supervision agreement by an agriculturist (only in the case that the interested person is not a registered agriculturist according to the Pest Control Products Law);
   • copy of the licence for practicing the profession of Agriculturist ( only if the interested person is an agriculturist);
   • application fee of €34,17 ( either by cash, cheque, or bank transfer).

   The applicants may be requested to attend written examinations organized by the Plant Protection Products and Biocides Board based on the Manual of Pesticides Salesperson.

   On site inspections are carried out in order to ensure that all the prerequisites, mentioned under “eligibility criteria” section, are met.

The application fee is €34,17 and is payable by cash, cheque, or bank transfer.

The licence renewal fee is €34,17; also payable by cash, cheque, or bank transfer.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated for. However, such revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

• The Pest Control (Sale, Manufacture, Storage) Regulations of 2003 (Κ.Δ.Π. 615/2003) (in the “Applications & Documents”)

Licensed pesticides salespersons are obliged to comply with the provisions of the Pest Control Products Law, as periodically amended, as well as with the terms and conditions of the licence. Indicatively licensed pesticides salespersons are obliged to comply, among others, with the following:

• be aware of the risks posed by the possession and use of all pesticides, have to recognize the various signs of toxicity and safety rests with the label and to remind customers to read and follow the label closely;
• sell only pesticides approved by the Plant Protection Products and Biocides Board, with appropriate packaging and posses the approved label;
• immediately discontinue the distribution of pesticides of which the registration was revoked, use date has expired or the packaging shows signs of tampering or alteration;
• without prejudice to any contractual obligations on both sides, to receive from the purchasers any expired pesticides. The samples for tests, and broken or expired pesticides should be stored in a special section marked “not for sale” until these are tested, returned or destroyed;
• make sure that pesticides are not being exposed to direct sunlight or high humidity conditions;
• arrange the sale of pesticides that are in the store and then replenished;
• ensure that the retail price is listed on the packaging of pesticides or in a conspicuous place on the shelf where it is mounted;
• keep a book where the buyers of toxic, with limited use, pesticides are listed, according to the instructions and finally;
• maintain in a separate store pesticides such as fumigants, when the Council require.