PPC123 | OPINION

BPCA’s policy and public affairs work often happens quietly in the background. Meetings with officials, consultation responses, briefings for MPs and evidence gathering rarely make headlines, but they shape how government understands pest management.

Rosina Robson, BPCA’s Chief Executive, explains why lobbying matters, why it doesn’t always go our way, and why the sector still needs a strong voice in Westminster, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Stormont.

Lobbying can sound like a dirty word to some people. It shouldn’t.

At its best, lobbying is simply about helping decision makers understand how their policies affect real people and real industries. Governments don’t always have detailed knowledge about every sector they regulate, especially one as specialist as pest management. That’s where trade associations come in.

BPCA exists to represent the pest management sector. Part of that role is making sure politicians, civil servants and regulators understand the practical realities of protecting public health, managing infestations and running pest management businesses.

Why government needs industry input

Government departments are responsible for huge areas of policy. Officials cannot be experts in every industry, chemical, treatment method or operational challenge.

That means they rely on evidence from businesses, trade bodies, scientists, charities and campaign groups to help shape decisions.

A policy that looks sensible on paper can create unintended consequences if decision makers don’t understand how pest professionals actually work. 

Our job is to explain those realities clearly and professionally.

We take an evidence-based approach to lobbying. That means using member feedback, case studies, survey data and technical expertise to help inform government thinking.

Much of our recent work has focused on the three priorities in BPCA’s Manifesto for Government ahead of the last General Election:

• Protecting the toolkit and promoting professionalism
• Supporting the implementation of Awaab’s Law
• Reducing barriers to chemical innovation.

For example, we’re currently feeding evidence into the government’s review of mole trapping. That includes member insights, survey data and case studies explaining how traps are used in practice.

At PestEx, officials from Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) attended to speak directly with members. The feedback from those conversations was positive, with officials saying they found the opportunity genuinely useful.

That’s lobbying too. Sometimes it’s formal consultation responses. Sometimes it’s simply about creating opportunities for decision-makers to hear directly from professionals.

Why doesn’t it always go our way

Of course, lobbying is not about getting everything you want.

Sometimes governments make decisions based on political priorities, public pressure or wider policy agendas that outweigh industry concerns. Glue boards are a good example.

Officials made it clear to us early in the process that ministers had already decided licensing would only be allowed in exceptional circumstances. Civil servants were then tasked with delivering that policy position.

At that point, it became important to engage directly with ministers and senior decision makers. BPCA held conversations with Defra ministers, including George Eustice and Lord Goldsmith, during the debate around glue board legislation.

But lobbying becomes difficult when the political direction is already firmly established. Wales had already moved towards a ban, Scotland followed a similar route, and the current political climate remains heavily influenced by animal welfare campaigning. That doesn’t mean you stop making the case.

We continue to explain the operational reality of working without glue boards and the challenges created by the current licensing system, particularly where emergency use may be necessary.

We’ve submitted Environmental Information requests to better understand how licensing is operating in practice. We’re also working with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and other stakeholders to provide evidence around urban pest pressures and public health risks.

Why having a voice still matters

Sometimes progress does happen.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has sought BPCA’s advice while developing guidance around Awaab’s Law. More recently, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has also reached some constructive conclusions on future chemical regulation, although there is still work to do.

The pest management toolkit is under pressure. Regulation is changing. Public expectations are changing too. That’s exactly why the sector needs strong representation.

Policy positions can shift over time. Ministers change. Governments change. New evidence emerges. Public opinion changes direction. Successful lobbying often takes years.

Sometimes an opportunity appears because the right minister takes an interest. Sometimes it comes from building a strong evidence base over time. 

Sometimes it happens because several organisations work together to present a united position. Campaigning rarely delivers instant wins.

But if the sector isn’t part of the conversation, decisions will still be made, just without our input.

BPCA has just launched the No Small Matter report, alongside tools to help members contact their MPs directly. When pest management speaks with a clear, professional, and evidence-based voice, government is far more likely to listen.