Sector

17 September 2018

Tougher rodenticide rules for farmers, gamekeepers and pest controllers on permanent baiting

Tougher restrictions on permanent rodenticide baiting by farmers, gamekeepers and pest controllers, with legal backing, have been introduced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the UK rodenticide regulatory body.

A detailed booklet, CRRU Guidance: Permanent Baiting , is available.

CRRU Guidance Permanent Baiting

The practice is only approved where high potential for reinvasion is identified and when all alternatives have been considered. It is prohibited as a 'just-in-case' preventive measure when no signs of rats, nor high reinvasion threat, is present.

Dee Ward-Thompson, BPCA Technical Manager, said:

BPCA members have been working this way for years, but it's great to see HSE getting tough with the cowboys out there.

Dee Ward-Thompson, BPCA Technical Manager

The new restrictions address a high risk of wildlife contamination through small mammals such as field mice and voles entering bait stations, eating rodenticide then falling prey to a wide range of predatory birds and mammals. The same applies to some small birds, which possibly explains why anticoagulant residues are found in sparrowhawks and peregrines, which feed almost entirely on birds taken in flight.

One of the main objectives of the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime is to reduce residues in all UK wildlife. Restricting the use of permanent baiting will significantly contribute towards achieving this, according to Dr Alan Buckle, chairman of the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use, the body responsible to UK government for the stewardship regime.

Where permanent baiting is justified, some baits containing bromadiolone or difenacoum are allowed, but not all. Those containing the other three second generation anticoagulants are prohibited.

Rodenticide users need to check product labels carefully before use. There are new statements for prohibited as well as allowed permanent baiting rodenticides. For the latter, the key label phrase is

Permanent baiting is strictly limited to sites with high potential for reinvasion when other methods of control have proven insufficient.

Dr Buckle adds:

"In all situations, permanent baiting must never be a routine practice. But as a monitoring device, non-toxic placebo baits should be used more often.

"To counteract rats' acute fear of new things, there is good reason for having tamper-proof bait stations in permanent outdoor locations, but with placebo rather than rodenticide present.

"Inspecting placebo-baited stations regularly can give early warning of a new infestation. Clearly, when this happens, a temporary switch to rodenticide baits can be made until the infestation is cleared. Normally this should take no more than 35 days, followed by resumption with placebo."

 

Source: Onbline

Highlights View all news

06 June 2025

Latest news

Results are in: meet your new BPCA Board representatives 2025

Six new Member Directors have been chosen to help lead the Association and represent the interests of BPCA members at the highest level.

Read more

02 May 2025

Latest news

Full steam ahead for entry-Level 3 qualifications on BPCA Qualifications Framework

BPCA has committed to developing new Level 3 pest management qualifications as part of a new industry qualification framework.

Read more

24 March 2025

Latest news

Professional Pest Controller issue 118 (PPC118) out now

PPC118 is out now and packed full of great content.

Read more
Latest View all news

25 July 2025

Latest news

Raccoons on watchlist as possible invader

A team of experts representing 42 organisations across the UK and Europe have identified raccoons as being among 20 species most likely to become invasive in Britain over the next decade.

Read more

24 July 2025

Latest news

BPCA shortlisted for Association Excellence Awards 2025

BPCA is delighted to announce that we’ve been shortlisted in two different categories at the Association Excellence Awards (AEA).

Read more

23 July 2025

Latest news

VIDEO: The good and bad that comes with the move to LED insect light traps

Tom Holmes, former BPCA President and industry consultant, takes us through the facts, the myths, and the big questions around LED insect light traps (ILTs).

Read more