If doing this as a commercial venture on someone elses property, then usually a certificate of competence, PA1, PA6 (sprayers), records to be kept etc. The information you need is on the HSE website

I don't know about the specifics of this application, but this sort of argument has become less compelling to me recently. In days of yore, I think there was an assumption that the 'stuff' you used or could access 'professionally' was stronger and/or more potent and/or more effective than what you could buy at a supermarket (or B&Q, or wherever). If it's stronger and so on it's probably more hazardous. The complement to that argument is that the stuff in the supermarket is not too hazardous. But is that actually still true? With increasing regulation of the workplace, and specifically chemical exposures at the workplace, is it still the case that the stuff at work is stronger than the stuff in B&Q? I observe that I can buy paints at B&Q with high VOCs and if I wanted to use them at work it would be quite a headache (ho ho). I believe there are poisons and weedkillers that are still allowed to be used by individuals but not by commercial organisations. (And, of course, I can do what I like with a ladder at home, but I daren't at work.)

Careful - You are entering the sphere of the Control of Pesticide Regs 1986 and as amended, these are enforced by the Ministry of Agriculture and its successor departments. Specific training is specified for operatives and is an essential must if working on another persons land or in comeercial premises. You will almost certainly need to contract this work out. The intent is to control the application of pesticides and to this intent you must work absolutely to the terms of approval for the material, ie cannot use domestic pesticides for commercial areas unless approval states so. Pesticides include Herbicides, Fungicides, Rodenticides so do not try to work around that it si not a pesticide. Also the use of non approved materials and home made concoctions is also prohibited. These regs apply in ALL domestic and commercial operations including by householders. Be bold and get a horticultural contractor to do it for you - it is far simpler and cheaper.

I tried to get to the bottom of this last year see post and various replies :- http://forum.iosh.co.uk/?g=posts&t=110167 (PS tried to find this on search by using the word "Weed" but could not, oddly Google found it) It may amuse if nothing else Chris

http://www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/using.htm is the place to get the current proper answer... Under the old pesticide regs, a certificate of competence was required for commercial users. In Scotland this scheme was administered (and the training delivered by) the Scottish Young Farmers Assn (No I'm not kidding...). The more recent biocides regs only require that users are trained and competent. So - as with first aid, and some others, there is no longer a single 'approval' or vetting process for training providers and effectively anyone can set up in business and claim to provide training in this subject. Standards of training have suffered (first aid and pesticide), but this is the "lighter regulation" reduced bureaucracy world we are living in...

Steve - still not sure what is going on with this as it seems the directive is more about active substances and the HSE seem to imply the COPR will continue. Certainly COPR training would likely satisfy the directive intent and I see no reason for not using it.