Close Menu
Pest MagazinePest Magazine
  • News
    • National Pest Awards
    • BPCA
    • NPTA
    • Companies
    • Local Authority
    • Natural England
    • HSE
    • People
    • Products
    • Best Practice
    • Brexit
    • COVID-19
  • Species
    • Rodents
    • Insects
    • Birds
    • Mammals
  • Magazines
    • June/July 2025
    • April / May 2025
    • Feb / March 2025
    • Dec 2024 / Jan 2025
    • Oct / Nov 2024
    • Aug / Sept 2024
  • Library
    • Inserts
    • Supplements
  • Professional Development
    • BASIS
    • Research
    • Stewardship
    • Training
  • Pest Test
  • Jobs
    • View All Jobs
  • Key Supporters
    • Bábolna Bio
    • Bell Laboratories
    • Pelsis
    • Envu
    • Lodi UK
    • PelGar International
    • Russell IPM
    • Syngenta
X (Twitter) LinkedIn
  • Sign-up for weekly news emails
  • Subscribe to Pest Magazine
  • About Us
    • Technical Advisory Board
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
X (Twitter) LinkedIn
Pest Test Log-In
Pest MagazinePest Magazine
  • News
    • National Pest Awards
    • BPCA
    • NPTA
    • Companies
    • Local Authority
    • Natural England
    • HSE
    • People
    • Products
    • Best Practice
    • Brexit
    • COVID-19
  • Species
    1. Rodents
    2. Insects
    3. Birds
    4. Mammals
    5. View All

    Helping a luxury car showroom eradicate an infestation and steer clear of rodents

    25 March 2024

    Case Study – Freeing a pig farm of a severe rodent infestation in just 10 days

    11 May 2023

    Chinese takeaway issues apology after video of rats and raw chicken emerges

    14 July 2021

    Republic of Ireland rodent callouts jump 35%

    25 June 2021

    13 confirmed sightings of yellow-legged hornets so far in 2025

    13 May 2025

    Red Spider Mites on the hunt for spaces to hibernate

    3 December 2024

    Rentokil encourages vigilance as wasp activity increases ahead of the early autumn nesting period

    25 September 2024

    Rentokil warns of a surge in biting insects as humid weather continues

    3 September 2024

    Worcester City Council increases budget to control gull numbers by £35,000

    26 October 2022

    BPCA urges householders and businesses to seek professional advice if birds are becoming a problem

    3 May 2022

    NatureScot restricts the use of general licences on Lochan Estate in Perthshire

    7 February 2022

    Natural Resources Wales confirms Welsh general licence extension until June 2022

    17 December 2021

    Conservation charity warns of need for joined-up approach and a fast-track to effective grey squirrel controls

    30 May 2025

    Squirrel charity welcomes new legislation on use of gene editing

    14 June 2022

    Ferrets to be removed as permitted target species for the DOC 250 spring trap

    13 April 2021

    Charity says planting of 30,000 hectares of trees must be matched by grey squirrel control

    10 February 2021

    Conservation charity warns of need for joined-up approach and a fast-track to effective grey squirrel controls

    30 May 2025

    13 confirmed sightings of yellow-legged hornets so far in 2025

    13 May 2025

    Red Spider Mites on the hunt for spaces to hibernate

    3 December 2024

    Rentokil encourages vigilance as wasp activity increases ahead of the early autumn nesting period

    25 September 2024
  • Magazines
    1. June/July 2025
    2. April / May 2025
    3. Feb / March 2025
    4. Dec 2024 / Jan 2025
    5. Oct / Nov 2024
    6. Aug / Sept 2024
    Featured

    Pest 99: June/July 2025

    By Simon King10 June 2025
    Recent

    Pest 99: June/July 2025

    10 June 2025

    Pest 98: April / May 2025

    8 April 2025

    Pest 97: February / March 2025

    12 February 2025
  • Library
    • Inserts
    • Supplements
  • Professional Development
    • BASIS
    • Research
    • Stewardship
    • Training
  • Pest Test
  • Jobs
    • View All Jobs
  • Key Supporters
    • Bábolna Bio
    • Bell Laboratories
    • Pelsis
    • Envu
    • Lodi UK
    • PelGar International
    • Russell IPM
    • Syngenta
Pest MagazinePest Magazine
Best Practice

Code of Practice on humane use of glue boards drafted

Pest WritersBy Pest Writers3 February 2015No Comments3 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

In a move to ensure the continued availability of glue boards for the control of rodents within the professional pest control market, a new industry-wide Code of Practice covering their use has been drafted.

This Code, produced by the relatively recently created Pest Management Industry Alliance (consisting of the British Pest Control Association, the National Pest Technicians Association, the National Pest Advisory Panel and the UK Pest Controllers Organisation) aims to illustrate the professional approach taken by the industry regarding the humane use of these items.

To read, or download, this new Code of Practice click here.

 

Welcoming this Code, NPTA Chairman, Peter Crowden said: “This is an excellent example of how all sections of the industry can work together for their mutual benefit, hopefully, the first of many such initiatives. Once this Code is fully in-place, it will receive the support of the various government agencies – Natural England and Defra for example. Personally, I would like to see these products available only for professional use – ideally only those operators working within the BASIS PROMPT Scheme.”

On a practical level, BPCA CEO, Oliver Madge said: “The continued use of this (last resort) control method is a very important part of our armoury and one that we need to be able to defend. It is also a first step towards promoting a professional use only product. If restrictions are put in place it must be against amateur user, to assist preventing inhumane practices and allow pest controllers to deliver and be paid for professional services.”

Background to the situation
Glue boards used for the capture of rodents have been in use for some years. Various voluntary Codes of Practice have been in operation for professional users, yet their introduction into the DIY market has raised concerns regarding their use.

On the 8 July 2009, three MPs, Alan Meale (Mansfield), Bill Etherington (Sunderland North) and Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) signed a motion in Parliament as follows:

Use of glue traps in the UK 
That this House is aware that pest controllers who are members of the British Pest Control Association are currently subject to a voluntary code on the use of rodent traps, which includes the direction that distributors should not supply glue boards to persons who are not trained or competent in pest control practices; notes that a wild mammal is protected by the provisions of the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 but also that this law does not cover animals caught in inhumane glue traps which cause them much unnecessary suffering; and believes that the Government should follow the lead of many other parliaments worldwide and recognise the cruelty of such practices by introducing legislation to ban their use in the UK.

It was felt that this motion would generate further discussion with its supporters who would seek to have the sale and use of glue boards banned in the UK.

The Pest Management Industry Alliance recognises that in the hands of an-untrained person glue boards can be used inappropriately and in a manner that can become inhumane. It therefore shares the concern of Members of Parliament and animal welfare groups that glue boards are readily available for members of the public to buy either in retail premises or on the internet.

The Alliance believes that the sale and use of glue boards must always be permitted as a matter of last resort by properly trained professionals working in accordance with an industry standard code of practice and never by members of the general public.

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleEuropean Pest Management Day organised by CEPA
Next Article Make your voice count in national survey
Pest Writers

Read Similar Stories

NPTA introduces Honey Bee Code of Practice

How to reduce the risk to non-target species

CRRU prepares rodenticide users for 2026 certification requirements

Latest Stories

Join BPCA’s Qualifications Framework working groups

4 July 2025

BPCA to host online debate on behavioural resistance in rats and mice

3 July 2025

Pelsis launches new durable, poison-free silverfish trap to support pest professionals tackle persistent infestations

2 July 2025
Key Supporters
© 2025 Lewis Business Media. All Rights Reserved.
Lewis Business Media, Suite A, Arun House, Office Village, River Way, Uckfield, TN22 1SL

Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • National Pest Awards
  • OvertheCounter
  • Pet Business World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.