The hard work of BPCA, its Members and their clients working together have resulted in a victory against a proposal to class insect monitoring trap pheromones as biocides.
Through a two-pronged attack at the European Commission and lobbying of the UK's representatives on the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products, we were able to convince them to abandon plans. Had these gone through unchallenged, the binding decision would likely result in most insect monitoring traps being withdrawn from sale, and longer term could have a significant impact on the use of other substances to attract or repel pests.
BPCA Chief Executive Simon Forrester said,
“BPCA led a two-pronged attack on the European Commission’s proposal to classify monitoring traps containing attractants as biocides. First we lobbied the UK's representatives on the Biocidal Products Standing Committee, where we were able to explain in detail the impact of the wrong decision on this issue. We also submitted a strong lengthy statement, and encouraged both our Members and their clients to do the same to ensure the Committee rejected the proposal. We were extremely pleased with the volume and quality of responses, and this unified response from the UK really helped to steer the Committee’s thinking.”
“Had the proposal gone through unchallenged, the binding decision would likely result in most insect monitoring traps being withdrawn from sale, and longer term could have a significant impact on the use of other substances to attract or repel pests.”
“This activity is a key example why professional trade and membership organisations are so important in protecting the interests of their industry, and I particularly want to thank all our Members and supporters who reinforced our statement by submitting their company response.”
Each Member state can now make their own decision on this topic, and BPCA will continue to lobby HSE to keep these products on the shelves.
In a letter from Garry Wiles of the Chemicals Regulation Division at HSE, he stated, "HSE will be considering within the next month the UK position, and we will write to you again (and also update the HSE website) setting out the position on monitoring traps in general, which we can then apply to specific cases when they are brought to our attention."
Our thanks to those members and other organisations listed below whose support for this issue helped us obtain a positive result:
Acheta (Dr John Simmons)
Acheta Consulting (Adrian Meyer)
Action Pest Control (Keith Prowse)
Aveland (Chris South)
Barrettine (Steve Bailey)
Beaver Pest Control (David Lodge)
Bounty Pest Control (Martin Rose-King)
Check Services (Lewis Jenkins)
CleanKill (Chris Davies)
Command Pest Control (Peter Meaney)
Countrywide Pest Control (Philip Halpin)
Dealey and Associates (Martin Cobbald)
Des Bone (Richard Bone)
Ecolab (Mark Williams)
Enviroguard (Iain Whatley)
Environmental Pest Control (Ian Sharpe)
Europest (Morgan Francis)
Hygiene Zone (Alan Forbes)
Killgerm (Rupert Broome)
MITIE (Grahame Turner / John Austin)
PPC Environmental (Phil Bowman)
Rentokil (Dawn Kirby)
Tactical Environmental Services (Nigel White)
Tufnell Park Pest Control (Imogen Levenson)
Other UK-based Associations and organisations that have supported our stance:
Allied Technical Centre
Brunei Halal UK
English Heritage
Essentia Protein Solutions
Food and Drink Federation
Forest Foods
Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA)
Granta UK
Historynics
International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA)
Moto Hospitality
Mylan
National Trust
Nestlé UK
OP Chocolate
Pest Magazine
Pladis (United Biscuits)
Whites Oats
Whitworth Bros
Simon Forrester
Chief Executive
26 May 2017 | eBulletin
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