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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  • 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    Ficam W to be withdrawn from the market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

  • 23 September 2019

    New product manager at Bayer

    BPCA member company, Bayer Environmental Science has appointed a new product manager to oversee the pest product portfolio.  Tim Peeling has been working in the professional pest sector for over 15 years and brings a huge amount o.... More

  • 13 September 2019

    CONSULTATION: Wild birds general licence survey launched by Defra

    Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers has launched a public survey as part of a planned review of general licences to manage wild birds in England. Defra is leading this review in close partnership with Natural England. Take the.... More

  • 29 August 2019

    Remembering John Kay

    It is with great sadness that we learned this week of the passing of former BPCA President, John Kay. John was a familiar face to many in the pest management industry, with a career spanning 35 years. Joining Rentokil from the Royal Na.... More

  • 29 August 2019

    Pest photo of the year launched

    BPCA is looking for the best pest photograph of the year and is offering a £500 prize for anyone who captures the perfect image of public health pest control. The competition is officially open now. All you need to do is tw.... More

  • 28 August 2019

    Mitie Pest Control purchase given go-ahead

    The purchase of Mitie Pest Control by Rentokil Initial has been green-lit by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) following an investigation.   In an update posted on the Gov UK website, the CM.... More

  • 23 August 2019

    PPC96 out now

    Professional pest controller magazine issue 96 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.  .... More

  • 23 August 2019

    Flying insects in hospitals carry 'superbug' germs

    Health and safety | PPC96 August 2019 More than 50% of bacteria recovered from flying insects in a group of English hospitals were resistant to one or more antibiotics, posing a potential infection risk to patients, according to a.... More

  • 23 August 2019

    A birds-eye view of general licences

    Legislation| PPC96 August 2019 Since April this year, it’s been all hands on deck in the pest management world, getting to grips with changes in bird control licences and the way we manage pest birds. Now that we have s.... More

  • 23 August 2019

    Developments in mosquito management

    Technical| PPC96 August 2019 Traditionally mosquitoes have been treated with pesticides and insect growth regulators by pest controllers, but scientists have been looking at how we can fundamentally change our foe to make them less of.... More

  • 22 August 2019

    Ratcatcher to riches: Championing Professionalism

    Your association | PPC96 August 2019 Way back in PPC91 we showed you our ‘strategic plan at a glance’. Part of BPCA’s strategy is to champion the professionalism of the sector. But what does that mean? What.... More

  • 22 August 2019

    BPCA Professionalism Working Groups

    Your association | PPC96 August 2019 What does championing professionalism in pest management look like today? These groups are posing some huge questions with no easy answers. Many members are working to help answer them and, ult.... More

  • 22 August 2019

    Meet the member: “Starting Lady Bug Pest Control saved my life.”

    Your association | PPC96 August 2019 “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how did you get into pest control?” As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Vicki Sims hears this question a lot. BPCA Com.... More

  • 21 August 2019

    Pest awareness for everyone

    Your Association | PPC96 August 2019 From facilities management to the equine world, BPCA’s PR efforts reach a wide-ranging and diverse audience. Jane Shepherd from BPCA’s agency, Shepherd PR, talks about why it&r.... More

  • 20 August 2019

    14th Fumigants and Pheromones Conference announced

    Registration is now open for the 14th Fumigants and Pheromones Conference, taking place next May in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Insects Limited and Fumigation Service & Supply will be hosting the biennial confere.... More

  • 19 August 2019

    NBC secures backing from Santander

    BPCA member NBC Environment has secured £1.2m funding with a major bank to boost the company’s growth. As a result of a successful extensive review of NBC’s business model, the company has secured a funding pack.... More

  • 02 August 2019

    HSE releases annual fatality statistics

    The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released its annual figures for work-related fatal injuries for 2018/19. Alongside these figures are the statistics for people known to have died from the asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma.... More

  • 31 July 2019

    Abstract submissions sought for ICUP 2020

    The organising committee of the next International Conference on Urban Pests (ICUP) are welcoming abstract submissions from those working, or researching, within the field of urban pest management. The deadline for offers of abstracts is 16.... More

  • 24 July 2019

    Dealey named Future50 company

    The future looks bright for fumigation specialists and BPCA members, Dealey Environmental, following the company’s inclusion in East Anglia’s Future50 programme this year. A list of businesses handpicked from across Norfol.... More

  • 19 July 2019

    CRRU-style stewardship regime adopted by Jersey Gov

    The Government of Jersey is introducing rodenticide stewardship covering the sale and use of professional rodenticides, to help reduce the risk of poisoning non-target wildlife.   Modelled on the Campaign for Responsible Rode.... More

  • 18 July 2019

    CONSULTATION: General licences in Scotland to be examined

    Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has announced a consultation on the general licences for wild bird management, in response to an ongoing legal challenge in England.   For the next 12 weeks, SNH will be taking feedback on the.... More

  • 17 July 2019

    MIDS pest technician forum "great success"

    It was a relaxed and fun day at the first MIDS technician forum in Hertfordshire last week. Planned and hosted by Steve Middleton at MIDS Pest Control, the day was supported by BPCA and several of the sector’s manufacturers and distri.... More

  • 17 July 2019

    Syngenta App aims to keep pest techs up to date on the go

    A new Syngenta Professional Pest Management App, designed to help technicians get the best out of products, is now available for download to smartphones and tablets.    The App provides instant access to essential inform.... More

  • 17 July 2019

    UK pest technicians wanted for Australian adventure

    Want to trade the British winter for an Australian summer? CPS is looking for exceptional pest technicians to join their ranks during their peak season.  An Australian company, Competitive Pest Services, is currently recruiting two techn.... More

  • 16 July 2019

    1env get muddy for Macmillan

    BPCA member 1env Solutions sent a team along to the Nuclear Mud Race this year, raising just almost £2000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the British Heart Foundation.   The five-person team&nb.... More

  • 15 July 2019

    Use up your Ficam D, says Bayer

    Following changes to the Ficam® D label, pest controllers are being reminded by BPCA member Bayer to use up any stocks with old labels, displaying HSE 4829, by 25 July 2019. Alternatively, you can replace the label on your old stock wit.... More

  • 11 July 2019

    PMA give evidence on glue boards at Scottish Parliament

    On 20 June 2019, as part of an ongoing petition by campaigners to ban the sale and use of glue traps, the Pest Management Alliance (PMA) were invited to give evidence to the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee.   T.... More