Field Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Review of Agrichemical Supply, Plant Pest, Weed, and Disease Control, and Agrichemical Application unit standards
|
Subfield |
Domain |
ID |
|
Agriculture |
Agrichemical Supply |
21544 |
|
Primary Sector |
Plant Pest, Weed, and Disease Control |
21556, 21558, 21560, 21561, 21563, 21565, 27208, 27210, 27215, 27216, 29827 |
|
Rural Contracting |
Agrichemical Application |
6239, 6240, 6245, 17232, 23617, 23619, 23620, 31940 |
The Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board has completed the review of the unit standards listed above.
Date new versions published June 2026
Planned review date December 2031
Summary
The review of existing agrichemical standards across the Agrichemical Application and Agrichemical Supply domains (Levels 2-4) was initiated in conjunction with the review of the New Zealand Certificate in Agrichemical Application (Level 4) [Ref: 3984] and the New Zealand Certificate in Agrichemical Supply (Level 4) [Ref: 2497].
The review was guided by a Consultation Advisory Group (CAG) comprising 10 members, including industry experts from organisations such as Growsafe and Rural Contractors NZ (RCNZ), the major provider Connexis, Primary ITO, and regional council representatives.
The review confirmed that the scope covered multiple contexts, including standards that were associated with the New Zealand Certificate in Agrichemical Supply (Level 4) [Ref: 2497] (since expired August 2025) and standards that were part of the Limited Credit Programme (LCP) in Vineyard Operations offered by Primary ITO.
As well as reviewing the unit standards for currency, clarity and consistency, a primary focus was ensuring the qualification and unit standards were aligned with the NZ standard, NZS 8409:2021 (Management of agrichemicals), which superseded NZS 8409:2004.
The review also aimed to implement an update across the suite by shifting specific compliance references from Titles, Outcomes and Performance Criteria (PCs) to Guidance Information to better emphasise applied knowledge and core industry skills for assessment.
Main changes
· Unit standard 21544 was reclassified from Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Agriculture > Agrichemical Supply to Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Rural Contracting > Agrichemical Application. Outcome 3 was amended from ‘control ’to ‘explain’.
· Title of unit standard 21556 was amended to remove redundant implicit use of ‘supervision’ and replace with ‘or a specified primary sector’ to better reflect outcomes and PC.
· Titles and outcomes for core knowledge unit standards 21563 and 21565 were revised to include the concept of 'effective' use (i.e., 'safe, responsible, and effective use' of agrichemicals) in keeping with NZS 8409:2021 requirements.
· Titles of unit standards 27215 and 27216 were amended to better reflect the learning outcomes and PC which includes prepare and apply agrichemicals.
· Title of unit standard 29827 was amended to include ‘safety procedures’ to be more accurate and better align with Outcome 2.
· A new mandatory performance criterion (PC 1.1) regarding the establishment of necessary regulatory permissions and controls was added to unit standards 6239, 6240, 23617, 23619, 23620 and 31940.
· Title of unit standard 23617 was amended to apply to 'brush and pest weeds' rather than just 'brush weeds'.
· Title of unit standard 23619 was amended to include ‘identify and describe’ in order to reflect outcomes more accurately.
Impact on existing organisations with consent to assess
|
Current consent for |
Consent extended to |
||||
|
Nature of consent |
Classification or ID |
Level |
Nature of consent |
Classification or ID |
Level |
|
Subfield |
Agriculture |
4 |
Standard |
21544 |
4 |
|
Domain |
Agrichemical Supply |
4 |
Standard |
21544 |
4 |
Impact on Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR)
All unit standards moved to CMR 0052.
Detailed list of unit standards – classification, title, level, and credits
All changes are in bold.
|
Key to review category |
|
|
A |
Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number |
|
B |
Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number |
|
C |
Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new ID |
|
D |
Standard will expire and not be replaced |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Primary Sector > Plant Pest, Weed, and Disease Control
|
ID |
Title |
Level |
Credit |
Review Category |
|
21556 |
Control weeds under supervision Control weeds for a specified primary sector |
2 |
2 |
B |
|
21558 |
Describe calibration, and calibrate motorised agrichemical application equipment |
4 |
5 |
B |
|
21560 |
Explain agrichemical use for primary sector applications |
3 |
6 |
B |
|
21561 |
Use, maintain, and store agrichemical personal protective equipment |
2 |
2 |
B |
|
21563 |
Describe hazard classification systems, and the safe and responsible use of agrichemicals Describe hazard classification systems, agrichemical risks, and their safe, responsible, and effective use |
3 |
8 |
B |
|
21565 |
Describe and manage agrichemicals in accordance with NZS 8409:2021 Manage the safe, responsible, and effective use of agrichemicals |
4 |
10 |
B |
|
27208 |
Identify and describe plant pests, diseases, and disorders, and methods of prevention and control |
3 |
8 |
B |
|
27210 |
Identify and describe weeds, and methods of prevention and control |
3 |
6 |
B |
|
27215 |
Prepare to apply and apply agrichemicals using hand held equipment Prepare to apply, and apply, agrichemicals using hand-held equipment |
2 |
5 |
B |
|
27216 |
Prepare to apply and apply agrichemicals using motorised equipment Prepare to apply, and apply, agrichemicals using motorised agrichemical application equipment |
3 |
8 |
B |
|
29827 |
Demonstrate knowledge of agrichemicals, and safety when using agrichemicals Demonstrate knowledge of agrichemicals, and safety procedures when using agrichemicals |
3 |
5 |
B |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Rural Contracting > Agrichemical Application
|
ID |
Title |
Level |
Credit |
Review Category |
|
6239 |
Prepare to apply, and apply, agrichemicals for total vegetation control |
4 |
12 |
B |
|
6240 |
Prepare to apply, and apply, agrichemicals to control aquatic weeds |
4 |
20 |
B |
|
6245 |
Transport agrichemical concentrates by road and develop an emergency procedure guide |
4 |
10 |
B |
|
17232 |
Determine application rates for agrichemicals |
3 |
4 |
B |
|
23617 |
Prepare to apply, and apply, agrichemicals to control brush weeds Prepare to apply, and apply, agrichemicals to control brush and pest weeds |
4 |
12 |
B |
|
23619 |
Describe pests in crops and pasture and agrichemicals for their control Identify and describe pests in crops and pasture, and agrichemicals for their control |
4 |
8 |
B |
|
23620 |
Prepare to apply, and apply, agrichemicals to control pests in crops or pasture |
4 |
20 |
B |
|
31940 |
Prepare to apply, and apply, agrichemicals to control pests in tree and vine crops |
4 |
20 |
B |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Agriculture > Agrichemical Supply
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Rural Contracting > Agrichemical Application
|
ID |
Title |
Level |
Credit |
Review Category |
|
21544 |
Demonstrate knowledge of the environmental aspects of agrichemical use |
4 |
8 |
B |