OPINION | PPC113 November 2023

Martin Harvey, Managing Director of Harvey Environmental Services, tells PPC why he thinks the glue board ban in Wales shows a lack of respect for the professional pest control industry. 

The ban on glue boards, which began in Wales on 17 October, sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the UK and, in my opinion, it’s a decision that is fundamentally flawed.

We have known for some time that a partial ban on the use of glue boards will come into force in England in April 2024.

I say partial, because the legislation has a limited exception for pest control operations to apply to the Secretary of State for a licence to use one of these traps when there is “no other satisfactory solution” or where the action is required for “the purpose of preserving public health or safety”.

But, to date we have not been informed about the parameters of this clause. It’s vital that we do know soon. And here’s why…

Failure to deal with infestations quickly poses a risk to human health; especially if this infestation is in a hospital ward, care home, school setting, or food business. Plus, there may be wider economic implications should a business face closure caused by a rodent issue.

We agree that glue boards should only be used in the hands of a professional pest controller, traditionally only when other methods of pest control have been exhausted. What is not yet clear is how we seek a licence to use glue boards when essential, and how long it might take.

England’s exemption is similar to that of New Zealand, which banned glue traps in 2015, and successful glue trap licence applications in NZ have fallen every year since, with no approvals for use in 2021.

My fear is that it will be made almost impossible to get a licence on a case-by-case basis, and that could be catastrophic to the public and businesses alike.

We agree that control is necessary

The total ban in Wales highlights yet again the need for strict regulation in the sector, a sector for which entry requirements are lower than comparable trades.

We absolutely agree that they should not be sold to unregulated pest controllers seeking a quick fix solution at any cost. And they categorically should not be available for the public to purchase.

However, BPCA members are fully trained and qualified, and are bound by a code of practice for the safe and ethical use of glue traps. They are also required to take their ethical and legal responsibilities seriously, and we certainly do just that.

Traditionally, glue boards have been considered an incredibly useful tool for pest controllers to remove rodents from busy places quickly. For example, if there is a rat or mouse running around the customer area of a restaurant, it needs to be dealt with straight away.

Professionals need to be trusted to make their decision case-by-case, based on risk. A medium to high risk infestation may require a glue board solution, whereas the initial treatment for a low to medium risk infestation may be baits or traps.

We need to feel supported in our decision to use glue boards against rodents and, right now, we don’t. We feel exposed and unprotected.

Every second counts

Let’s consider the reality of a commercial rodent infestation. Using alternative methods to catch mice or rats could take several weeks. First, we must identify the source of the problem and then we have to encourage these savvy rodents to take our bait. Often, they don’t.

That means weeks, possibly months of rodents running around the premises and all the while they are multiplying at rapid rates.

As we’re all aware, rats and mice breed approximately every 28 days with an average litter of eight and mice are sexually active within three weeks. Feral mice can even conceive while still pregnant.

One pair of rats can produce 2,500 young in a single year assuming there is no natural mortality. Infestations could easily get out of control. And all carry diseases like hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), and salmonella, posing a huge threat to human health.

Then consider the impact a potential business closure might have on a community, particularly if such a closure affects a care home of 100+ residents, all of whom have to be moved to alternative accommodation while in a fragile state.

Our plea to the legislators

As professionals in this sector, we are the ones who should be trusted to make considered decisions on a case-by-case basis and we need the authority to do this swiftly for the benefit of humans and animals alike.

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