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Interview：Resolve problems of pest management by high level of professionalism
Feb. 13, 2013
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Rob Fryatt
Owner
Rainer Gsell, who has spent his long career involved in the pest management industry and for many years held key leadership positions such as President of CEPA (Confederation of European Pest Management Associations) and both President and Director General of the German national industry Association the DSV ((Deutscher Schädlingbekämpfer Verband), has recently been interviewed by Rob Fryatt, the former Director General of CEPA.
Rob: I know you are a great supporter of Sustainable Pest Management and took very early steps in Germany to form a dedicated group of professionals to drive the idea forward. What do you see as the challenges ahead for the industry with an increasing consumer “chemophobic” attitude?
For me sustainable, or as many call it “green”, is not just a word. I see every pest management method or approach as if it was being practiced in my own house or business. Would you like to live in a cloud of pesticides without any information or in fear of the consequences of the application? So if the customer does not like this, is it such a surprise? We not only control the pests, but need to take care of hygiene that can impact on heath too, for that I think the future for our profession is to be better educated and give honest advice. This is essential if we are to serve our customers in a professional and secure way. That is what I mean by using the word “green”.
Rob: Right from its very start you have been very involved with CEPA. What do you see as the value of CEPA to the European industry and how do what CEPA and the DSV offer compliment each other?
When I joined the board of the DSV in 1991, the first question I asked was “Are we members of CEPA?” The answer was strange; “No, but we have been!” My own belief is that European legislation cannot be made without Germany, but the German pest control industry cannot exist without European legislation. So I said, “We should join CEPA anew and I promise you, we will get benefits from this!” We went to Paris and asked CEPA, the European Association, to become a member again and I am personally so happy that CEPA agreed. This opened up the way for influencing the development of the European industry and the influence that CEPA continues to have on future European legislation. I am very proud to continue to be an executive board member of CEPA.
Rob：Turning to the CEN Project to develop a European Industry Service Standard. The German industry has operated using a national standard for some time, indeed this has been one of the models we have been able to draw from in developing the European Standard. What advantages have the professional companies in the German industry seen from operating within a standard?
The CEN Project or TC 404, as it is correctly named, is a consequence and development of two internal industry initiatives to put in place common industry standards and at the same time to raise professional standards. These initiatives were the Orlando Protocol (2002) and the Rome Protocol (2008). CEPA came to the conclusion that it is better to have a standard than just an industry protocol that has no basis of common structure with other industry standards. This is for two main reasons. The first is that the all companies large and small in the pest management industry can compete in fairer, one could say a better way with a common standard. The second reason is that the customer can be further assured of getting the best standard of service available. The German industry will get these benefits from the CEN Standard, as well as every country industry within the European industry. Good service and fair competition will help the whole European industry to develop further and of course to grow.
Rob： A couple of questions to draw on your knowledge and experience. First what do you see as the biggest challenges ahead for the European Pest Management Industry and how can they best manage them?
One of the biggest challenges in the future will be the continued and increasing impact of the biocidal product regulation, especially the changing pattern of use of anti-coagulant rodenticides. The continual use of best practice and well educated service technicians lead us back to The CEN Project. We only can resolve problems in future by demonstrating a high level of professionalism.
Rob：And second, what role do you think CEPA could or should perform outside Europe to share the skills of its people and their organisations with the wider world of pest management ?
Rob, as you will recall, I explained the base from where the CEN Standard has evolved. First there was the Orlando Protocol which was worldwide, CEPA took this opportunity to take one step further developing the Rome Protocol. From these initiatives, the CEN Standard Project was created. The development of a Standard is not only of benefit for Europe but also the international industry. Let’s help the Pest Management industry throughout the world to get benefits from the hard work and initiative of CEPA. We have good connections to the NPMA in the USA, now is the right time to build connections with the other associations outside Europe as well and help them to develop standards like TC 404.
It is because of true dedicated leaders, such as Rainer, the pest management industry continues to develop worldwide. It is easy to think only of your business in isolation, it take a greater vision to think of your own role within your national industry and then to give such service over many years. The German industry and indeed the European industry owe Rainer a big thank you for his past contributions with the wish that it continues well into the future.
Source: Rob Fryatt
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