The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is starting new inspections on stricter pest control measures aimed at protecting wildlife.
Fresh compliance checks at suppliers, farms, pest control businesses and food producers are being carried out to ensure the new stricter measures to protect wildlife from rodent poisons are being followed.
Updated measures on how rodenticides are used and stored, as well as new requirements for purchasing them, came into effect at the start of the year under the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) stewardship scheme.
Compliance
Dr. Kerry Hughes from the HSENI’s market compliance chemicals team said professional rodenticide suppliers and users will be expected to verify competence and record keeping to demonstrate compliance with the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) and stewardship requirements.
“HSENI inspectors will be carrying out compliance checks across the supply chain including farm supply shops, farms, pest controllers and businesses that carry out their own pest control, such as food producers or manufacturers,” Hughes said.
“We will be checking that suppliers and users are properly trained in handling and storing rodenticides in line with the BPR.
“This would include checking that the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides is only in and around buildings and not in open areas, while also ensuring suitable bait boxes that prevent access by children, non-target animals and wildlife are being used.”
Proof must also be provided that necessary approved training courses have been completed, as this is required at point of purchase.
“Our overall goal is to ensure good stewardship of these poisons and ensure they are used responsibly to protect our wildlife,” Hughes added.
Impact on wildlife
The HSENI has been working with the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAWNI) to understand the impact of misuse of rodenticides on wildlife, and in particular on raptor populations.
Dean Jones from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds NI and secretariat to the PAWNI said that rodenticides continue to pose a serious threat to Northern Ireland’s wildlife.
“These toxic substances can persist and accumulate within the food chain and can contaminate the wider environment, impacting the health of vulnerable species like barn owls, red kites and hedgehogs and, in some cases, result in death,” Jones said.
“The PAWNI strongly advocates that rodenticides should only be used as a last resort, and only after all other appropriate non-toxic control measures have been considered and exhausted.”
New requirements
The new requirements for professional users and suppliers include:
- To provide proof of training on a CRRU UK approved course, that must have been completed in the past five years or;
- To provide proof of certification on an approved course more than five years ago and be part of an approved continuing professional development scheme;
- Membership of a farm assurance scheme will no longer be acceptable as proof of competence, so you must ensure you meet the new requirements;
- Suppliers must verify competence and keep records to demonstrate compliance with the stewardship requirements;
- The stewardship scheme also has a code of best practice that requires professional users ensure correct and appropriate use in line with the products BPR authorisation.