Time To Get Serious About Pest Management

Rodent control on farms is critical for protecting your stock and yourselves. At British Pest Control Association we’ve worked hard a to ensure pest management professionals have the tools they need to carry out this important public health role.

But as rodenticides come under pressure around the world, all professionals involved with rodent management need to make sure they’re following the latest legal requirements. Because if we don’t, rodenticide might be taken away from all of us.

Rodenticide (rat poison) is an important tool in a pest manager’s toolkit, however because of the risks to the environment and non-target species, professionals need to take care. Other European countries have completely banned the use of many rodenticides currently used in the UK. The only reason we still have them is because of an agreement with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that we’ll use the products responsibly.

There’s been a widespread focus across the sector on the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques in the control of rodent populations, in response to environmental concerns and resistance to rodenticides.

The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Usage (CRRU) has detailed guidance and Codes of Best Practice that all professionals need to take heed of. This is especially important now as “following CRRU guidance” has started to appear on labels, making them a legal requirement.

It’s encouraging that recent studies by both Ulster University and the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK (CRRU) show the majority of farmers are no longer permanent baiting for rats.