LEGISLATION

In November, BPCA's Chief Executive Ian Andrew represented the pest control industry in the fight for glue board use at a Welsh Parliament Select Committee.

Unfortunately, much of BPCA's evidence was dismissed out of hand at the committee stage report, despite support from UK Hospitality.

The report stated that:

• Local authorities in Wales do not use glue boards
• Rentokil has a “self imposed” ban on glue boards and can still “capture problem rodents in all circumstances”
• Defra is having difficulties implementing a licensing scheme for pest professionals (in England), “most notably with the fact there is no Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code for pest controllers and no qualifications or licence is needed to work in that type of role. Therefore, determining a legitimate application for a licence to use a glue trap would prove very problematic, rendering the definition of who is exempt in the regulations very difficult”.

The report concluded: “Having considered the Minister’s letter alongside other evidence received, the Committee does not object to the proposals in the Bill on prohibiting the use of glue traps.

“[...] The Committee supports the provisions in Part 5 of the Bill to prohibit the use of glue traps”.

Lessons learned

We’re very disappointed with the report’s findings. BPCA will continue to campaign for a licensing scheme. However, we are concerned about how much more influence we can have.

We’ve struggled to get pest control end-users to support our defence of glue boards, with all but UK Hospitality staying silent.

Local authorities and a single pest management company provided evidence contrary to ours when the sector needed to show a united front (despite BPCA and NPTA representing all our members collectively).

And, of course, the issue of licensing rears its head again. How much easier could this all have been if pest professionals were licensed to practice rather than our toolkit managed piecemeal?

We are concerned that Wales will be the domino that topples the stack. Scotland may follow Wales’s lead.

Once Scotland and Wales have broadly aligned rules, it’ll likely make Defra reconsider how viable a licensing scheme is.

We’ll continue to advocate for continued access to glue boards for professionals. However, this process will be a hard lesson for our sector.

CONCERNED ABOUT LEGISLATION?

If you're a BPCA member and you want to talk to us about the implications of future legislation, please get in touch.

hello@bpca.org.uk