Has the world gone mad?

As the autumn season gets into full swing you could be forgiven for thinking the world has gone just a little bit mad.
From 1 September as our withdrawn products web story explains a raft of popular insecticides can no longer be sold; not because they are dangerous or don’t work but because of EU regulatory change, under something called Article 95.

May contain nuts
Pest professionals with food industry contracts have also been battling with new demands for detailed information on the possible allergens in pest management products. This follows the implementation of the Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011, under which allergen labelling rules were introduced in December 2014.

The new regulation builds on allergen labelling provisions for pre-packed foods and introduces a new requirement for allergen information to be provided for foods sold non-packed or pre-packed by the retailer for direct sale by the same retailer.

Mad world

Rodenticide baits, non-toxic monitoring baits and the glue on glue boards are all coming under scrutiny and, who knows, potentially even the plastic the bait box is made of.

Many manufacturers are producing allergen statements about their products which pest control servicing companies can pass onto their clients and, in many cases, this seem to do the trick. These generally point out which potential allergens are used in the products and which are not as well as making reference to the use of tamper-resistant bait boxes as the best means of mitigating against the risk that baits might come into contact with food.

Have you had any difficulties in meeting these new food industry allergen requirements? Do get in touch and let us know your experiences. We’re not yet at the point where everything has to be labelled ‘May contain nuts’ but it seems we may be one step nearer.

Diatomaceous earth – the next to go?
Finally, just last week rumours began to emerge that the biocidal insecticide claims made on many diatomaceous earth (DE) products will have to be removed from labels. And it seems this is all to do with the same Article 95 that caused the loss of the raft of insecticides in our recent withdrawn products listing. Those DE products affected cannot be sold after 1 September, but like the other insecticides there will be a (yet to be defined) use-up period.

In summary, the purpose of Article 95 is to give some protection to the manufacturing companies that are prepared to invest in all the research needed to get active substances through the EU review process and to keep them on the market. Those companies that spend the vast amounts needed to do this can then choose which other companies they are prepared to share their data with (if any). There does seem to be some justice in this approach.

Pest is trying its utmost to clarify exactly what the position is and we will advise readers as soon as we know. Surely the world has gone a little mad, but remember try to keep calm and carry on!

Let us know what you think of all this.