At the first sign of vertebrate pests action must be taken to disrupt feeding patterns to allow non chemical methods of control to be deployed e.g. audible scarers, cage traps and fencing. Only when non-chemical methods have proved inadequate should chemical treatments be considered. The chemicals used for the control of vertebrate pests are very dangerous to other forms of wildlife, the public and employees. Their use must be restricted to qualified operators only. Application must only be made in ways that avoids all risk to non-target species including pets and humans as defined in label recommendations.
A qualified and professionally registered person must carry out all pest control activities, and full documentation must be in place, with respect to placing of traps appropriately, visits, actions and disposal of spent bait and carcasses. A professional registered contractor is normally expected to carry out this work. It is very important that the supplier/packer works with the contractor to establish and manage the different risk points on any site.
When a rodenticide is selected for use, the following points of good practice should be considered:
• Only use more complex and toxic chemistry (does this need explaining?) when you can demonstrate first generation resistance to simpler, less toxic chemistry.
• Ensure that all bait is covered and secured.
• Regularly search for rodent bodies, up to 100m way from the bait points and dispose of them appropriately. (and what does that mean - remember a rat in a domestic household, fine but on a farm covered by waste regs..I kid you not)
• Appropriately dispose of all spent bait and document the disposals.
Providing all these points of good practice have been considered carefully, there may be occasions on which it is appropriate to use rodenticides that are currently on the prohibited list of pesticides. Under these circumstances, please bring the use of these compounds to the attention of Co-op Retail, with the appropriate rationale for use.(Permit)
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