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Farming unions buy time for farmers on new rodenticides legislation
Sep. 9, 2015
UK farming unions have secured the option for farmers to use their farm assurance scheme membership as ‘proof of competence’ as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announce new rules on the purchase and use of professional rodenticide bait (rat poison).
This option will be an interim measure until at least December 31 2017 as a result of successful farming union lobbying during the discussions on the new UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime with HSE and the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CCRU).
Ivor Ferguson, UFU deputy president argued that this window was vital as it gave farmers the time and flexibility to undertake this new training requirement.
More than 90,000 across the UK would need to be trained and certified before June 2016 and in these discussions the farming unions argued this would be hugely impractical.
The UFU welcomed this pragmatic step as it also underlined the fact that food quality, human and animal health, farm business profitability would all be at risk if essential rodent control were to be put under threat on many farms.
Ivor reminded the regulators that farmers take their responsibilities with the use of rodent control products very seriously, and that the UFU are acutely aware that this compulsory and time-consuming requirement brings additional pressure on resources on farm. It is essential for many farmers to have access to these products for farm biosecurity and for this reason we have lobbied hard on behalf of our members to secure the necessary additional time and flexibility to reduce this burden.
In summary
Farmers have two options if they wish to buy and use professional rodenticide bait on their premises after 1 June 2016:
• Possess an approved certificate of competence from an approved training programme and awarding organisation confirming professional competence, thereby allowing purchase and use of professional rodenticide packs carrying ‘stewardship conditions’ labels
• Be a member of a UK farm assurance scheme which has among its standards a requirement for an audited programme of rodent pest management
Farmers have two other options for rodent control via baiting:
•Employ a professional pest controller whose technicians themselves are in possession of approved certificates.
•Purchase and use amateur rodenticide bait (usually in pack sizes less than 1.5 kilograms)
Source: Farming UK
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