A dedicated website has now been created detailing the concession given by the Environment Agency to professional pest controllers to allow them to bury or burn small quantities of rodent carcasses in rural situations.
In April 2008, the Environment Agency extended to professional pest controllers, for two years only, the concession to allow them to burn or bury small quantities of rodent carcasses in rural areas as had previously been the situation for famers and gamekeepers.
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However, a condition of this extension was that the National Pest Advisory Panel (NPAP) of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health would monitor the situation. As part of this monitoring, a dedicated website has been created which includes a survey form. The monitoring programme is being conducted with support from the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) and the UK Pest Controllers Organisation (UKPCO). Its terms have been agreed with the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Health & Safety Executive. Commenting on this situation, Natural England’s senior wildlife specialist, Paul Butt, said: “There remains a continuing problem of rodenticide residues appearing in bird of prey fatalities. All rodenticide treatments require the user to follow the label instructions and these include searching for, and safely disposing of, rodent carcasses. The concession given by the Environment Agency to allow the burying or burning of small numbers of rodent carcasses is a practical, significant and helpful concession.” |
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All professional pest controllers are encouraged to take the time to read the details of the scheme on the website, to fill out the survey form and to send in their feedback and comments. This will then go towards justifying the extension of the concession when the regulatory position is reviewed by 31 March 2010. The form can be accessed by clicking here. |
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