Category 1PA Operator
Protected Ag Operators using closed loop irrigation/chemigation systems are referred to as Category 1 PA Operators.
There are two steps to achieve PAS Certification:
Step 1 – Registration:
All Category 1 PA Operators must register. Once registered, a Temporary PAS Certificate will be issued. Category 1 PA Operators will be required to present this Temporary PAS Certificate to their suppliers in order to be eligible to receive shipments of PCP registered products labelled for greenhouse use . These Temporary PAS Certificates will expire within two months of issuance.
Step 2 – Audited and Certified:
The PAS Standards consist of mandatory and optional protocols. Please visit the Resources section for a copy of the Protocol Manual. All Category 1 PA Operators must be audited for compliance, before the temporary certificate expires. Upon registration you will be assigned an Auditor to assist with the certification process.
In consultation with your auditor, choose Basic Certification or Certificate of Excellence Certification.
| Basic Certification | Certificate of Excellence Certification |
| For basic certification all Category 1 PA Operators must be audited and pass Section C. In Section C there are four protocols which cover water management assessment and system monitoring. PA1 Operators awarded Basic Certification, will be eligible to continue to receive shipments of PCP products labelled for greenhouse use. | Operators can also achieve a Certificate of Excellence (COE) which demonstrates a commitment to workplace excellence. To achieve COE status, in addition to section C, operators must also be audited for compliance with sections A (Pesticide Handling, Storage & Training), B (Pesticide Application), D (Site Management) and E (Emergency Response) of the Standards. PA 1 Operators awarded a Certificate of Excellence, will be eligible to continue to receive shipments of PCP products labelled for greenhouse use. |
| PA 1 Operators not PAS fully certified, will be ineligible to receive shipments of PCP products labelled for greenhouse use. | |
Questions & Answers
Do I require a Declaration of Category 2PA Operation (CAT2) Waiver if part of my operation is Category 1 (CAT1)?
Some Protected Agriculture (PA) operations have both closed loop systems and other irrigation systems at the same greenhouse site. These sites must register as Category 1. In these scenarios the closed loop portion of the operation must be audited for compliance with the Protected Agriculture Stewardship Standard. A category 2 waiver is not needed in these cases, the temporary and full certificate supersede and will provide access to PCP products labelled for greenhouse use.
How does the Standards address companies that have multiple locations?
For the purposes of certification, a site is described as one unique location (specific address and/or land location). A site may span multiple addresses and will be considered a single site provided that the sites are adjacent. Each different location (address and/or land location) will be treated as a separate assessment and a separate registration must be completed.
What happens if I am currently a CAT2 Operation, and we install a closed loop system in some or all of our operation?
It is expected that over time an operator may choose to install a closed loop system at a location that previously did not have any closed loop systems. When a CAT2 waiver is completed, the operator agrees to terms which include notifying AWSA of any changes in use, scope or operation that changes the category for our operation. In these cases, the operation should be audited for compliance with the Standards. Once successfully audited a certificate will be issued which makes the CAT2 waiver redundant. For ease of delivery, it is recommended that the water assessment be completed before using the irrigation system. This will minimize any disruptions to the cropping cycle(s).
What happens in 2024 if I do not register for either CAT1 or CAT2?
Starting on March 1, 2024 distributors and retailers of PCP registered products labelled for greenhouse use will be required to either verify a CAT1 operator’s certification status (Temporary certificate or full PAS certificate) prior to selling/shipping products or have confirmation of an operator’s CAT2 waiver prior to selling/shipping products. Ag-retailers must verify PA operators as part of their obligations as a certified AWSA retailer. Failure to do so jeopardizes their retail certification which they are required to maintain.