The Agriculture (Wales) Bill has been published, committing to a complete prohibition of using snares and glue traps. Unlike the Glue Traps (Offences) Act, the Agriculture (Wales) Bill has no provision for pest professionals to use board boards under licence.
Ian Andrew, BPCA chief executive, said the association has been invited to give evidence defending glue boards at the Welsh Parliament in November.
Mr Andrew said: “We’ve repeatedly explained to the Welsh government that pest professionals have no alternative tool in their kits to protect vulnerable people and vital infrastructure when speed is essential.
“Through our conversations with UK MPs and Ministers, we successfully campaigned for the Glue Traps (Offences) Bill (now Act) to be amended to include a licensing scheme in England – the Welsh government seems much less open to helping us protect its citizens from public health pests. Giving evidence at the Welsh Parliament is probably our last opportunity to have our voices heard.”
Mr Andrew said that while BPCA has always supported the restriction of glue boards for amateur and untrained users, the sector cannot sit idle while legislators remove tools that protect food, businesses and human health.
Mr Andrew will give evidence in person on behalf of BPCA members at the Welsh Assembly on November 9.
Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, said in a statement: “Following on from our Programme of Government commitment, the Agriculture (Wales) Bill also contains provisions to ban the use of snares and glue traps. It is important to note the significance of these provisions. Wales will be the first UK nation to completely ban the use of snares and glue traps.”
BPCA is preparing a paper on glue boards for the Welsh Parliament. If any pest professionals are willing to support the paper by providing case studies on the essential use of glue boards to protect human health, email us today, via [email protected].