31 May 2022

Opinion: Who do you think you are?

Opinion | PPC107 June 2022 Regular PPC writer Alex Wade from Wade Environmental is back – and this time he's talking through the opportunities licensing could bring. Listen to this article as an audio narration by the author .... More

30 May 2022

TechAssure: Virtual assessment of practical skills and knowledge

Training | PPC107 June 2022 BPCA has launched a 3D interactive competency assessment with support and funding from the Ufi VocTech Trust. BPCA Training and Development Manager Karen Dawes explains TechAssure and the gaps it helps fill.... More

11 May 2022

New control of field mice guidance document out now

MEMBER LIBRARY A technical briefing and guidance document, on when and how field mice can be controlled, has been published by BPCA and Pesttrain. The new four-page document was requested by technicians and covers: Position.... More

01 March 2022

Environmental Risk Assessments and how to deal with them

Technical | PPC106 “Don’t roll the dice when it comes to protecting the planet; always do environmental risk assessments”, says BPCA Head of Technical, Dee Ward-Thompson. In this article she takes it back to basics and exp.... More

18 January 2022

New label conditions on "robustness" of rodenticide bait boxes

Changes required by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to legally binding instructions on rodenticide product labels have significant implications for users in pest control, farming and gamekeeping. Updated text will appear on labels J.... More

10 December 2021

Abridged CRRU Code of Best Practice to be made available for trainee pest technicians

STEWARDSHIP CRRU announces intention to publish an abridged adaptation of the CRRU Code of Best Practice in pest rodent control in January 2022. The need arises because, as responsible pest controllers know all too well, annual m.... More

09 November 2021

Back to basics: treatment reports

TECHNICAL | PPC105 NOVEMBER 2021 Q: As a professional, what’s the best way to protect yourself from legal action when working with harmful chemicals and specialist equipment in homes and businesses? A: A pest ma.... More

09 November 2021

Dust, up to snuff? Maintenance tips for pressure dust applicators and storing pesticides

TECHNICAL | PPC105 NOVEMBER 2021 A bad workman always blames his tools, but are we doing everything in our power to make sure our arsenal is fit for purpose? We asked Darran Lebeter, Sales Specialist at BPCA member company 1env Soluti.... More

05 November 2021

VIDEO: Pest management to food company accreditation standards | Digital Forum 11

CPD VIDEO In this video, Grahame Turner from PestAcuity discusses the various food standards that you might come across in pest control, including BRC, AIB and M&S.  The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) hosts thes.... More

05 November 2021

VIDEO: Caught in a web - false widow spiders | Digital Forum 11

CPD VIDEO In this video, Chris Woodard from Chris Woodard Pest Services discusses the new false widow spiders, their impact and management options.  The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) hosts these free.... More

05 November 2021

VIDEO: Rodents root cause analysis | Digital Forum 11

CPD VIDEO In this video, BPCA's own John Horsley discusses root cause analysis in relation to rodents. How do we get to the heart of a rat or mouse issue?  The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) hosts these&nb.... More

20 August 2021

Ask the technical team August 2021

TECHNICAL | PPC104 AUGUST 2021 Field mice, bait box tampering, relocating wasps and reporting misuse of amateur pesticides are tackled in this issue of Ask the BPCA technical team. SPEED VIEW: No rodenticides in.... More

01 July 2021

Legal teeth and rodent control update in 2021 Code of Best Practice

Rodenticide use for permanent, pulsed or burrow baiting, or in covered and protected bait stations, is now only legal if the product label permits these ‘non-standard’ scenarios specifically, says CRRU. This applies equall.... More

17 June 2021

UK government confirms plans to ban rodent glue boards completely

The UK government has issued details on the Glue Traps (Offences) Bill to crack down on “inhumane rodent traps”. In a government press release it states: “Glue traps are a widely available and cheap method of pe.... More

01 June 2021

Case study: Technology at heart of pest control company

A Bayer case study showing Amicus embracing technology as part of an integrated pest control approach. Technology is currently the missing piece of the puzzle in many integrated pest control approaches, but it can play a fundamental role in i.... More

12 May 2021

Opinion: Vive la France? Observations on pest control licensing in France

OPINION | PPC103 MAY 2021 In PPC103 Robert Moon, director of Applicateur3D, looked at whether British pest controllers should be licensed like those in France.  In 2010, having already lived in France for four y.... More

25 February 2021

PestWatch: Rodents and glue boards

PESTWATCH | PPC102 MARCH 2021 You’ve probably recently seen images on Facebook and Twitter of non-target species caught on glueboards. You may have closely followed the Scottish Parliament petition for a complete ban la.... More

25 February 2021

Ask the technical team March 2021

TECHNICAL | PPC102 MARCH 2021 Rats next door, rodent carcass disposal, woodworm treatment and insect identification are all covered in this issue of Ask the BPCA technical team. SPEED VIEW Local authorities are em.... More

07 December 2020

New BPCA Codes of Best Practice on bed bugs, birds and reporting released

A brand new set of Codes of Best Practice are now available on the BPCA website, outlining the responsibilities and procedures that BPCA members are expected to adhere to. BPCA’s Technical team worked on the new documents i.... More

27 November 2020

Practical rabbit management: part two

TECHNICAL | PPC101 DECEMBER 2020 In his previous article in PPC100, Dave Archer looked at the history and legal aspects of rabbit management. In part two, he jumps straight into the practicalities of controlling rabbits. SPEED.... More

27 November 2020

The risk of zoonotic disease in pest control environments

TECHNICAL | PPC101 DECEMBER 2020 Anyone who works around animals has an increased risk of picking up or passing on a nasty zoonotic disease. As pest professionals, it’s up to us to be able to protect ourselves, our clients and ou.... More

27 November 2020

Infection and immunity in wild rodents - the zoo of infections

TECHNICAL | PPC101 DECEMBER 2020 Covid-19, Ebola and HIV originated in animals. The Covid-19 pandemic in particular has rightly refocused our attention to the infections of wild animals. Professor Mark Viney from the Department of.... More

27 November 2020

PESTWATCH: Bed bugs - fail to prepare, prepare to fail

TECHNICAL | PPC101 DECEMBER 2020 In this PestWatch, BPCA Technical Manager Dee Ward-Thompson takes a look at why bed bugs are so difficult to control and what pest technicians can do to reduce the risk of failed treatments.  .... More

26 November 2020

Survey shows dust formulations preferred by pest controllers

TECHNICAL | PPC101 DECEMBER 2020 Tim Peeling, product manager at BPCA member Bayer, takes a look at the findings of their summer wasp study. The loss of actives and increased label restrictions continues to affect pest contr.... More

26 November 2020

Ask the technical team December 2020

TECHNICAL | PPC101 DECEMBER 2020 Proactive squirrel control, multiple rodenticide usage, test and trace and insect identification are all covered in this issue of Ask the BPCA technical team.   SPEED VIEW The.... More