A tenth rodenticide supplier has stepped forward to support the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU). This follows the Health & Safety Executive announcement that a stewardship programme for second generation anticoagulant rodenticides is to be drawn up by pest control industry stakeholders.
The programme's development is being coordinated by CRRU, whose new member-sponsor is Barrettine Environmental Health.
"Rodenticides are very important tools to our customers and we share a duty to help communication throughout the supply chain to end users," says Barrettine MD Steven Bailey.
"If companies like ours do not pitch in, those already supporting CRRU could face an unfair burden to fund and implement product stewardship on behalf of the whole industry."
Currently, other member-sponsors of CRRU are BASF Pest Control Solutions, Bayer, Bell Laboratories, Killgerm Chemicals, LiphaTech, Lodi UK, PelGar International, Rentokil Initial and Syngenta.
This latest expansion in corporate support comes at a good time, according to CRRU chairman Dr Alan Buckle. “As the stewardship programme's design develops, another source of professional input and funding is most welcome," he says.
Since CRRU's establishment in 2005, it has promoted responsible rodent control to farmers, estate managers, game keepers and other care-takers of the countryside. In particular, it created the CRRU code of practice for rodenticide users and has been instrumental in setting up the BASIS-accredited Wildlife Aware status for professional pest controllers, now held by more than 180 individuals.
