Laid in Britain, an assurance scheme for hen's eggs, has been approved by the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime as proof of competence for the purchase of professional use rodenticides. In common with nine more schemes, this approval applies until 31 December 2017.

By showing their assurance scheme certificate and personal I/D, farmers are eligible to purchase professional use rodenticides with stewardship labels.

The 10 stewardship-approved assurance schemes are:

• Laid in Britain (hens' eggs)
• Red Tractor Farm Assurance (beef, lamb, dairy, combinable crops, sugar beet, fresh produce, pigs, poultry)
• Quality Meat Scotland (cattle, sheep, pigs)
• Farm Assured Welsh Livestock (beef, lamb)
• Scottish Quality Crops
• Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (beef, lamb, cereals)
• British Egg Industry Council Code of Practice for Lion Eggs
• Duck Assurance Scheme (breeder replacements, breeder layers, hatcheries, table birds including free range)
• Quality British Turkey
• Agricultural Industries Confederation including TASCC (combinable crops, animal feeds)

This cornerstone of the stewardship regime applies via all suppliers including internet, according to regime figurehead Dr Alan Buckle. On 1st October this year, showing proof of competence and I/D became mandatory in the purchase of professional use rodenticides with stewardship labels.

Guidance for farmers can be found at www.ahdb.org.uk/projects/RodentControlHub.aspx, and for gamekeepers and pest controllers from their own professional bodies. A rodenticide stewardship Q&A document can be downloaded from www.thinkwildlife.org.