Rodenticide Legislation in Ireland
- Use of Rat & Mice poison new rules in the Republic (2019) -
Since 2018 the EU Biocide Directive is compelling local governments to implement changes in the use of rodenticides.
Due to the variety of rodenticide (rat & mice poison) formulations, actives and use, it is not possible to produce a specific piece of legislation that can apply to all products and all users. The DAFM-PRCD approach is to approve each individual rodenticide with a specific set of instructions/conditions on the product label. The label will then contain this notice: “It is illegal to use this product for uses or in a manner other than prescribed on this label“. In other words, the rodenticide label is the legislation.
From March 2018, the main rodenticide changes are:
Rat & Mice poisons for amateur-use:
- Pack size to reduce to 300g. max. across Europe (it used to be up to 10 Kg. before that)
- Concentration of active ingredient for amateur-use rodenticide to be reduced to 25ppm across EU (standard concentration was twice as much prior to that)
- All bait must now be placed in temper resistant bait boxes
- Loose grain sachets should be placed as they are sold and should not be opened
Professional Mice / Rat poisons:
- Loose Grain rodenticide pack size to reduce from 20Kg to 10Kg in UK and Ireland (this is mainly for operator safety by reducing decanting)
- Rodenticides cannot be left permanently in situ. Without a justifying written Risk Assessment they should be removed after 35 days
- Rat & Mice poisons must be used only after a rodent infestation has been established, and must be removed immediately after the infestation is cleared.
- “Professional Users” (i.e. people who use the rodenticides commercially) must now obtain a licence (“PMU” number) in order to purchase or use professional rodenticides. They must also enrol in a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) scheme. For more information check: The Licencing of Irish Pest Controllers From 01/01/2018.
- There is currently an exception for Irish farmers who can still purchase and use professional rodent poisons (but not in sewers or away from buildings / open areas), providing they have a herd number and use the rodenticide on their own farm.
- Professional rodenticides should only be used in accordance with a code of best practice such as the CRRU Ireland Code of Best Practice
Professional Rodenticide Legislation: Label Instructions Example (Vertox)
Note: The CRRU Ireland Code of Best Practice recommends:
- ALWAYS HAVE A PLANNED APPROACH
- ALWAYS RECORD QUANTITY OF BAIT USED & WHERE IT IS PLACED
- ALWAYS USE ENOUGH BAITING POINTS
- ALWAYS COLLECT AND DISPOSE OF RODENT BODIES
- NEVER LEAVE BAIT EXPOSED TO NON-TARGET ANIMALS AND BIRDS
- NEVER FAIL TO INSPECT BAIT REGULARLY
- NEVER LEAVE BAIT DOWN AT THE END OF THE TREATMENT
Written Pest Management / Environmental Risk Assessment is now mandatory prior to use professional rodenticides.
Only use open poison bait trays in “protected” areas
Professional Pest Control operator decides of frequency of re-visits
Search for carcasses of dead rodents to prevent risks of secondary poisoning of predators. Customers may need to assist by checking for dead rodents between scheduled visits.
Professional-use rodenticide that cannot be re-used must be treated as “hazardous waste”. the PMU should have a hazardous waste collection system in place at their office and keep written records.
No permanent baiting under any circumstances (e.g. for monitoring activity) indoors or outdoors.
If “long term” baiting is necessary, this must be determined in the initial Risk Assessment and this assessment must be reviewed (in writing) every 35 days max.