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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  • 23 March 2020

    Pest professionals are key workers - here’s why

    Those who work in pest management and control are considered key workers in the Covid 19 pandemic. Last week, the UK Government released a list of key workers who could continue to send their children to school during the pandemic. .... More

  • 20 March 2020

    BPCA writes letter to schools to allow pest management to continue during Covid-19 pandemic

    In light of the Government not explicitly adding pest management to the list of crucial sectors in their guidance, BPCA has produced a letter template for members to help ensure their employees' children can continue to go to school. .... More

  • 19 March 2020

    BPCA writes to Prime Minister to ask to be designated as key workers amid Covid-19 pandemic

    Today, BPCA has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking that pest management professionals be designated key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government announced measures yesterday so that "key workers" would be a.... More

  • 17 March 2020

    Tetramethrin classification changes

    Tetramethrin, the active ingredient in some insecticidal products, has been classified as a category 2 carcinogen. This will impact formulated products in which the level of tetramethrin is equal to or greater than 1%. Such produ.... More

  • 16 March 2020

    ICUP 2020 conference postponed

    The organising and executive committees for the International Conference on Urban Pests (ICUP) have made the decision to postpone the 10th ICUP Conference. The event was planned to run from 29 June to 1 July 2020 in Barcelona, Spa.... More

  • 13 March 2020

    BPCA shortlisted for memcom award

    BPCA is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for Membership Organisation of the Year in the memcom Membership Excellence Awards.  The memcom Membership Excellence Awards showcase the great work coming out of t.... More

  • 13 March 2020

    How to apply for gull licence as deadline approaches

    BPCA is advising all members that they should apply for their individual licences for gull control in good time for breeding season. On 30 January Natural England released details of changes to the individual licences f.... More

  • 12 March 2020

    Record visitor numbers at PPC Live 2020

    British Pest Control Association’s travelling tradeshow, PPC Live, saw record numbers of visitors when it took a trip to Harrogate, Yorkshire this week. 516 people came along to the UK’s biggest pest management event of 20.... More

  • 12 March 2020

    Pest photograph competition winner announced

    BPCA were pleased to announce the winner of the #BestPestPic2020 competition at PPC Live in Harrogate this week. Mark Horrocks, a pest management technician from Gloucestershire, won the Association’s competition to find th.... More

  • 09 March 2020

    Syngenta to launch new bait station at PPC Live

    BPCA member Syngenta will be launching a new, ready-to-use ant bait station at PPC Live on 11 March. Outcast Ant Bait Station is a new self-contained ready-to-use delivery system for Syngenta’s ant control gel bait. .... More

  • 05 March 2020

    Scotland: three new general licences announced

    Following a review of the general licensing system, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has released three new general licences for bird control, to come into force from 1 April 2020. What's changed?  From 1 April 2020 there ar.... More

  • 05 March 2020

    MIDS to host pest control event

    An event for pest management professionals, organised by MIDS Pest Control, is taking place in Letchworth on 25 March. Date: Wednesday 25 March 2020 Time: 9am - 4pm  Where: Jackmans Community Centre, Ivel Ct, Letchworth G.... More

  • 04 March 2020

    Guidance for pest management companies on Covid-19 Coronavirus

    Correct at time of publication (4 March 2020) The outbreak of New Corona Virus 2019-nCoV, commonly known as Coronavirus or Covid-19, in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei Province, has had a major impact across the globe.  .... More

  • 04 March 2020

    CRRU study appeals for tail tip samples

    An appeal for pest control technicians, farmers and gamekeepers to collect tail samples from freshly killed rats and mice has been issued by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU). In the past two years, new hotspots of r.... More

  • 04 March 2020

    Membership criteria change for Consultant and M&D membership

    Effective immediately, BPCA is removing the requirement for Consultant and Manufacturing & Distribution members to have been trading for 12 months before they can apply for membership. The BPCA Executive Board voted to change the member.... More

  • 04 March 2020

    Killgerm to showcase new products at PPC Live

    BPCA member Killgerm will be showcasing a range of new products on their stand at PPC Live next week. Among the products on display will be the latest addition to the popular AF range, the AF Multis. This multi-pur.... More

  • 03 March 2020

    Pest management in the EU: where do we stand post-Brexit?

    Until the future relationship with UK and the EU is determined, we need to remain aware of what is going on in Brussels with regard to any legislative changes that might affect the pest management sector.  Europe's Green.... More

  • 03 March 2020

    #BestPestPic2020 shortlist announced!

     The shortlist for the #BestPestPic2020 competition has been announced! There were an incredible amount of entries and our first set of judges found it so difficult to choose between them all.  As a result the shortlist.... More

  • 28 February 2020

    PestFix launch new bird control product

    BPCA member PestFix will unveil their newly-registered 3-Way Surface Mount Base, for use in bird-proofing applications, at PPC Live 2020 in March. PestFix explained, "Traditionally, a pest technician would have to bend posts or drill.... More

  • 28 February 2020

    Storms will drive pests into homes says PelGar

    BPCA member PelGar says that the back-to-back battering of the UK by storm fronts and widespread flooding is likely to drive pests into human areas. The storms will also have negative effects on other non-pest species of Bri.... More

  • 27 February 2020

    Social media mix ups: when internet pest advice goes wrong

    In this guest blog, Mark Butler and Martin Rose-King ask if the pest management advice you're getting on the internet is legit.  We've all been there: an urgent call from a customer panicking about the ‘deadly’ bug they.... More

  • 27 February 2020

    PPC Live 2020: Online showguide

    Welcome to the PPC Live showguide: your definitive look at what’s happening at the biggest pest event of the year. On 11 March, we’ll be in beautiful Harrogate for our one-day trade exhibition designed for pest control technicia.... More

  • 27 February 2020

    PPC98 out now

    Professional pest controller magazine issue 98 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 hard copy.&n.... More

  • 26 February 2020

    2020 Vision: New era for insecticides

    Pest control | PPC98 March 2020 With fewer insecticides available than in the past, keeping informed about insecticide product options is more important than ever for all parts of the pest management industry. Richard Moseley, Ba.... More

  • 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