Pest control sector news and updates

Latest industry news for the UK pest management sector by British Pest Control Associaton (BPCA). Professional Pest Controller (PPC) online is packed with up-to-date business and legislation updates for pest management professionals, pest technicians and business owners. See the latest press releases from across the sector. Got a press release that should be here? Send it to us now!

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  • 26 February 2020

    If you can make it here: Rat detection on the streets of NYC

    Your association | PPC98 March 2020 Davy Brown and Tom Naden run BPCA Associate member company, RatDetection.com, a specialist drain inspection and repair company. Started in 2007, they work solely in the UK pest control industry, fin.... More

  • 26 February 2020

    Come on Board!

    Your association | PPC98 March 2020 We’re always looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to volunteer their time with us here at BPCA, whether that’s on one of our Committees or on the Association’s.... More

  • 26 February 2020

    Designed for Committee?

    Your association | PPC98 March 2020 Leaving the Servicing Committee after almost 13 years, Jenny Humphrey joined after her father, who had been an active member of the BPCA for some years, passed away. She spoke to us ab.... More

  • 18 February 2020

    Bayer to launch new gel bait at PPC Live

    A new cockroach gel, which is the first product ever which claims to also control grey silverfish, will be unveiled at BPCA's pest management event of the year, PPC Live, in March. Bayer say the multi-use gel contains a.... More

  • 13 February 2020

    GENERAL LICENCES: six licences reissued for control of wild birds

    Defra has announced that six general licences for the control of wild birds in England will be reissued on a temporary basis ahead of new licences coming into force on 1 August 2020. Following a legal challenge by Wild Justi.... More

  • 06 February 2020

    BIG BIRD WRAP-UP: General and individual licences for bird control in the UK

    Since April 2019, we’ve had many updates on general licences for bird control in the UK. This quick view page will give you all the headline information and latest updates on general and individual licences in England, Northern Ireland, S.... More

  • 05 February 2020

    Coronavirus: advice for employers

    Cases of Wuhan novel coronavirus have been confirmed in a number of countries other than China including Thailand, Singapore, Japan, the USA, Canada and France. The first cases of the coronavirus have also now been confirmed in the UK, so a.... More

  • 03 February 2020

    BPCA launches #WeAreBPCA campaign

    After the success of the Be Protected. Professionally. campaign, BPCA has launched a new pest awareness message and is asking members to get involved.  All BPCA Servicing members will be receiving a USB stick packed full of useful tool.... More

  • 30 January 2020

    FAQ: Lesser black-backed and herring gull licensing

    An FAQ regarding the Lesser Black-Backed Gull and Herring Gull bird control licensing changes. Why are there changes to the number of gulls that can be controlled? Herring gull and lesser black-backed gull have been excluded from the.... More

  • 30 January 2020

    Natural England releases details of new bird control licensing arrangements for herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls

    Natural England has today [Thursday 30 January] set out changes to licences for the lethal control of herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls in England. Owing to their poor conservation status, herring gulls and lesser black.... More

  • 29 January 2020

    New licences for Lesser black-backed and Herring gull released tomorrow – England

    Natural England (NE) has confirmed that new bird licences for the control of the Lesser black-backed gull and Herring gulls will be released tomorrow (30 January 2020). This is a breaking story, and BPCA will publish more details as they co.... More

  • 29 January 2020

    BPCA members team up to deliver bee removal workshops

    Beegone, a part of BPCA Servicing Member PGH Pest Control, and BPCA Manufacturer and Distributor member Killgerm are partnering up to offer training on feral bee removal. The training will be delivered by Beegone Managi.... More

  • 29 January 2020

    Bayer launches updated pest app

    BPCA member Bayer's Pest Solutions Team is launching a new version of its free Pest Partner app. Developed as a tool for pest technicians, the Pest Partner app is a source of useful pest information, control advice as w.... More

  • 28 January 2020

    CIEH Conference: discount for BPCA members

    The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) 2020 Pest Control Conference is shaping up nicely, with discounted entry for BPCA members. The CIEH Pest Control Conference: Safeguarding Public Health has been organised in.... More

  • 24 January 2020

    BPCA delivers SPI expertise at trading standards event

    At the end of last year, our technical team was invited to give a series of presentations to the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers. The presentations took place in York, Manchester, Birmingham and London, to audiences of.... More

  • 23 January 2020

    Pest magazine sold to Lewis Business Media

    Pest and Pest+ enews were sold yesterday (22 Jan 2020) by owners Foxhill Publishing. The sale of the pest management magazine, launched in 2008, has "secured an exciting, long-term future for Pest", say founders Frances McKi.... More

  • 17 January 2020

    The importance of giving back

    BPCA member company Contego got off the ground in 2004, following funding support from the Prince's Trust charity.  Now going from strength-to-strength, Contego's CEO Michael Taylor talks about the value in paying it forward and givin.... More

  • 16 January 2020

    Could you be the new BASIS FACTS Chairperson?

    BASIS is seeking to recruit a new Chairperson for the BASIS FACTS Advisory Committee, starting in March 2020. The FACTS Committee comprises of representatives from a range of academic, advisory and commercial organisations.... More

  • 09 January 2020

    New categories and cards for BPCA Registered

    BPCA Registered announces new categories and cards for employees registered on its individual recognition and CPD scheme. BPCA Registered now has a range of cards relevant to both the role you carry out and your level of qualific.... More

  • 08 January 2020

    Are we going to lose more insecticides in 2020?

    With several prominent changes to insecticides in 2019, BPCA's been asked what the future of insecticides will look like. While nothing is certain, we've tried to clarify what's going on. As with rodenticides, all insecticides ar.... More

  • 08 January 2020

    Ficam W withdrawal dates announced

    Following the recent announcement that Ficam W is to be removed from the market, Bayer have announced they now have working timescales for the UK, in terms of sell-out and usage periods. 8 June 2020: sales of Ficam W will ce.... More

  • 08 January 2020

    PPC Live 2020 schedule announced

    The full schedule for PPC Live 2020 has been announced and we’ve packed it with illustrious speakers from across the sector. Taking place on Wednesday 11 March at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate, PPC Live is fo.... More

  • 07 January 2020

    Human hair behind pigeon deformity

    Pigeons with missing toes is a fairly common phenomenon in European cities like Paris and London. But what's the cause?  A team of scientists from France’s National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) and the Univers.... More

  • 07 January 2020

    Remembering Peter Bateman

    It's with sadness that we learned this week of the passing of former BPCA President, Peter Bateman. Peter passed away peacefully on New Year's Day with his wife, Joan, by his side. Peter spent 33 years with Rentokil, the last 20.... More

  • 07 January 2020

    What’s happening with bird licences?

    As we enter 2020, BPCA Technical Officer Natalie Bungay gives a brief overview of the current status of bird licences for pest management across the UK.   England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have diffe.... More

  • 03 January 2020

    Staying safe on the roads

    We're still deep into winter, which doesn't end in the UK until March. Pest control is a mobile business and so it's worth looking at how you can stay safe on the roads, whether on the job or otherwise.  There are a range of.... More

  • 16 December 2019

    Scotland: General Licences for bird control update

    Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have issued an update on the general licensing system in Scotland for 2020, following a period of consultation.    Over 700 responses to the consultation were received, with people sharing.... More

  • 11 December 2019

    Ficam W to be withdrawn from the market

    BPCA member Bayer has announced that Ficam W is to be removed from the market, following a vote from the EU Biocide commission. Alan Morris, Bayer head of environmental science, explains that the industry can expec.... More

  • 10 December 2019

    End of year and election reflections from BPCA

    December is always a great time for reflection and looking forward to the new year. BPCA takes a look at where we’ve been, where we’re going and gives us a round-up of what a BPCA election manifesto might look like.  As w.... More

  • 04 December 2019

    PestTech 2019 hits the target

    In November BPCA sent a team along to PestTech 2019 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. It was a busy day, with a steady stream of delegates and around 50 exhibitors (including BPCA).   We always like to champio.... More

  • 04 December 2019

    Scholarship announced for Leadership Program

    Women and Leadership International (WLI), an organisation working to provide professional development to women for the last 15 years, has announced a £2,500 scholarship available to women in the UK.  The Advanced.... More

  • 03 December 2019

    Individual bird licences for 2019 set to expire

     A reminder to pest technicians that individual licences for bird control will expire on 31 December 2019. If current general licences do not cover your requirements, you should apply now to receive new individual licen.... More

  • 02 December 2019

    Earn as you learn with new trainee programme

    BPCA member company Abate Pest Management are recruiting for two individuals to join their new trainee scheme.  The programme, which begins in January 2020, consists of a two-year training scheme where in.... More

  • 28 November 2019

    BPCA member Rentokil tops popular employers list

    BPCA member Rentokil Initial has knocked global tech giant Apple off the top spot in a league table of UK's most popular employers.   Rentokil was reviewed by its staff as the best company to work for in the UK,&nbs.... More

  • 28 November 2019

    CRRU call for 'no-excuses' professionalism rodenticide practice

    Detectable anticoagulant rodenticide residues in 87% of barn owls are highlighted by a new report to the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime, co-ordinated by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK. CRRU chairman Dr Alan Buckle.... More

  • 13 November 2019

    Egg-cellent news for Bayer

    BPCA Manufacturer and Distributor member Bayer's Harmonix® poultry red mite (PRM) is now included in the BEIC list of products that can be used on Lion Code egg farms. Ken Black, Bayer rural hygiene manager, says this is.... More

  • 13 November 2019

    Killgerm announce Scandinavian acquisition

    BPCA member company Killgerm Group Ltd recently announced the completion of its acquisition of Milluck AB. Founded in 2007 and based in Malmö, Sweden, Milluck supplies the professional pest control service market both in Sweden an.... More

  • 13 November 2019

    CEPA launches pest management professionalisation initiative

    On 1 October, the European pest management services trade association (CEPA) launched its Memorandum of Understanding on Professionalisation of the Pest Management Industry, in an event hosted by the European Committee of the Regions. .... More

  • 13 November 2019

    PPC97 out now

      Professional pest controller magazine issue 97 is out now and available to read online for free. The magazine can be read online or downloaded as a PDF or you can join our Affiliate Scheme and request a.... More

  • 25 October 2019

    Majority of farmers no longer permanent baiting for rats

    Just over two-thirds of farmers no longer use rodenticides continuously around farmsteads. Instead, they employ measures such as tidy yards and rat-proofed buildings, cats or terriers, traps and shooting, in combination with tactical rodent.... More

  • 24 October 2019

    CRRU finds rodenticide resistance in new areas

    Rodenticide resistance in rats has been confirmed in several new areas by a Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use study.   These include Durham, Northumberland, Tyneside and North Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and along th.... More

  • 16 October 2019

    BPCA scoops two excellence awards

    The British Pest Control Association was delighted to be recognised at the Association Excellence Awards in October.   The Awards are held to recognise and reward the achievements of trade bodies, professionals, membership or.... More

  • 15 October 2019

    UK aid tops up funding to tackle malaria

    International Development Secretary Alok Sharma announced that the UK would match £100 million of private sector funding to help tackle malaria. Mr Sharma said the international community must “work together to do more to.... More

  • 09 October 2019

    Cliverton names new director

    A new divisional director has been appointed at BPCA Associate member animal-related business insurance specialist Cliverton.   Mark Briggs has joined the company, bringing with him more than 20 years of insurance experience..... More

  • 04 October 2019

    Hygeia Award wins for Rentokil employees

    British Pest Control Association member Rentokil Initial is celebrating after two of its employees scooped Hygeia Awards for commitment to public health. At a ceremony held by the Royal Society for Public.... More

  • 03 October 2019

    Kiwa Group welcomes Acheta Consulting

    The merging of BPCA member Acheta Consulting to Kiwa's Agri Food Division has been announced. Acheta provides independent pest control consultancy and will be joining Kiwa Ltd, the UK arm of Netherlands-based Kiwa Group.... More

  • 03 October 2019

    Fendona 6SC to be discontinued

    BASF will not be continuing with the production of the insecticide Fendona 6SC, following recent re-registration.   In accordance with the Biocidal Products Regulations, BASF submitted dossiers to support renewal of the follo.... More

  • 02 October 2019

    BASIS recruiting Chair for Board of Trustees

    National charity BASIS is seeking to recruit a Chair for the Board of Trustees, starting in April 2020. BASIS CEO, Stephen Jacob, explains the Chair will play a vital role in the running of the charity, that looks to support and.... More

  • 30 September 2019

    Changes to bird control general licences in Wales

    Following a successful legal bid in England by campaign group Wild Justice, Natural Resources Wales has announced changes to its own general licensing system.   From Monday 7 October three general licences will be replaced, w.... More

  • 27 September 2019

    BPCA Registered accepted route for register of pest professionals in Ireland

    BPCA Registered has been approved as a recognised system for the employees of members working in Ireland to evidence their skills, qualifications and continued professional development.  The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Mari.... More