In readiness for all anticoagulant rodenticide purchases being restricted July onwards to their use inside and around buildings only, the latest UK Rodenticide Stewardship annual report includes for the first time an explanation specific to rodent pest control of what constitutes a ‘building’.
Summarised from guidance in the report, this means a permanent enclosed structure with foundations, constructed from wood, brick, concrete or metal that provides protection from the elements and minimises access by non-target species that might otherwise consume rodenticide baits placed inside. Temporary or easily moved structures are not generally considered to be buildings.
From 4 July specifically, none of the five second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are allowed to be bought for use in open areas or waste dumps. The five active ingredients – brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, difethiolone and flocoumafen – are sold under numerous brand names. Announced in June 2023, this restriction is designed to strengthen rodenticide stewardship and lead to reducing SGAR contamination in barns owls, the sentinel species for non-target wildlife.
In response to the report, the HSE-led Government Oversight Group (GOG) to which stewardship operator the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK (CRRU) is accountable acknowledges that commitments made at the 2016 outset have been fulfilled. It confirms that UK Rodenticide Stewardship, still under review by the GOG, is considered by government to be ‘fit for purpose’.
