In the September 2003 issue of the Pest Manager magazine, the AEPMA President was quoted, as saying in effect, if you don’t support the PestCert scheme you’re asking to have “SHONK” stamped on your forehead.

In another article, the PestCert promoter Mr Ron DeGroot declares that the ACCC “stop supply” authorisation was a key plank of PestCert, and the ACCC supported the PestCert objectives.

The draft PestCert - Code of Conduct, states that AEPMA members will be expelled if they are denied PestCert accreditation. Such expulsions would require an extra-ordinary resolution of members to change the Constitution to make this policy legal. I wonder why the AEPMA Board have not first put this proposition to their members for a vote?

On the basis of my investigations, the ACCC does not support the PestCert “stop supply” scheme, as it has not even received a written proposal to consider. When they do, the PestCert document will be widely circulated in the pest control industry by the ACCC and they will request interested parties to make written submissions in relation thereto.

The ACCC policy has been to refuse any such industry-wide “stop supply” proposal that could create a monopoly in the hands of a private sector group.

I would rate the prospect of the ACCC supporting the Pestcert “stop supply” scheme as absolutely zero. There is no other such service industry scheme with ACCC “stop supply” authorisation. AgSafe relates to pesticide distributors. The end user, the farmer is NOT required to be AgSafe accredited.

The ACCC refused on 19th March 2003 a proposal by the Dry Cleaning Institute of Australia to restrict supply of dry cleaning solvents, even though there was no government licensing of individuals using these solvents.

To avoid confusion it should be clarified in the Pest Manager magazine that joining the PestCert scheme is purely “optional” and NOT in any way compulsory. The AEPMA PestCert promoters are waving a big stick made of butter.

As you are aware, I am a keen supporter of a proper PCO licensing system to protect the public and thereby gain increased benefits for all professional and ethical PCO’s in the industry.

Another major shortcoming is that the AEPMA PestCert proposals do not address the industry’s needs or recognise the variations in the type of specialist work PCO’s carry out. For example, a PCO with a TAFE Pest control Certificate and many years experience, and who services only commercial kitchens and restaurants - would need 2 to 3 days further training each and every year to comply with the PestCert scheme.

Likewise, all office phone enquiry sales staff are required to have 1 to 2 days training every year, even if they have the TAFE Pest Control Certificate and many years experience in the business. The cost of this unnecessary training is yet to be clarified, but I estimate the PestCert scheme will cost the industry millions of dollars.

How can the AEPMA PestCert ask for industry backing as a credible proposal whilst the AEPMA PestCert money trail and contractual terms with Mr DeGroot remain a closely guarded secret? In addition, the AEPMA over the years has focussed primarily on collection of member fee income rather than professional standards or tertiary qualifications for AEPMA membership.

In fact, industry standards have dramatically declined in recent years as a result of “private sector” assessment of trainees to obtain a PCO license from the State Govt Health Department or WorkCover PCO licensing authority.

We should lobby the various State Parliaments (including the Opposition), the media and conduct a pro-active advertising campaign to push for an independent and effective PCO licensing system, preferably administered by the relevant State Govt - Dept of Consumer Affairs. In NSW they handle the licensing of builders, real estate agents, etc and are seen to be totally independent and are most active on consumer protection matters (not just health and safety).

The TAFE Pest Control Certificate should be mandatory for a PCO license. A specific committee made up of representatives from TAFE, Dept of Consumer Affairs, Health Dept and 3 elected industry representatives should set the TAFE course content and exams to ensure it is practical in content. Associations and industry training groups can provide ongoing relevant training based upon need and quality of content, including training notes and materials on their website.

The PCO licenses should comprise several specialist categories, such as (1) termite control (2) commercial (3) fumigation, and (4) general domestic premises.

Most importantly, there should be a separate PCO licence category of Technical Director for those who want to operate or manage a PCO business. Such a person should be required to have at least 4 years relevant practical experience in the industry.

A low cost quality assurance requirement for PCO business registration should be that for each licensed PCO employed, only one trainee (unsupervised) could also be employed.

This is the so-called “one to one rule” that operated in the NSW under the PCO licensing system until the private sector assessment system took over from the TAFE Pest Control Certificate, as the sole qualification to obtain a PCO license in NSW.

Andy Royal - PEST MANAGER - Editor’s response: The contact between AEPMA and PestCert (Ron DeGroot’s company), referred to in this letter, is a commercial in confidence agreement and, as such, its terms are not for public disclosure. Demanding public disclosure of commercial agreements between the two parties would be akin to demanding the disclosure of a company’s or person’s commercial dealings with its clients, which, I am sure, would be unacceptable.