Whistleblower process introduced for rodenticide point-of-sale breaches

Food production requires the need for the highly effective control of rodents
Food production requires the need for the highly effective control of rodents

A reporting process for suspected breaches of the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime point-of-sale checks has been introduced.

The process includes all point-of-sale checks for rodenticides, applying mainly to pest controllers, farmers and gamekeepers.

Demands for high quality and safe food mean that there is a need for ever higher standards in all stages of food production.

This has led to strict quality assurance requirements from buyers, such as supermarkets and food processing companies.??

Among these requirements is the need for highly effective control of rodents, which otherwise contaminate and destroy food at every stage from the farm to the supermarket shelf.

At the same time, government agencies responsible for the regulation of rodenticides have raised concern that many species of wildlife are being accidentally exposed to these products.

These agencies have called for better stewardship of rodenticides to prevent wildlife exposure.

Non-compliance

All supply outlets require buyers of rodenticides to provide an approved certificate of competence or documentation confirming membership of an approved farm assurance scheme. Otherwise, the seller is forbidden to supply.

All rodenticide authorisation holders have committed to investigate allegations of non-compliance, then report findings and action to the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) UK, the body charged with regime implementation.

A record of investigations and outcomes will be included in an annual report to the Government Oversight Group.

Sanctions available on sellers found breaching point-of-sale rules include re-training of the rodenticide regime, reporting serious instances to Trading Standards, and withdrawal of supply from non-compliant outlets.