Helping gamekeepers adapt for 2024 rodenticide changes

In order to help gamekeepers prepare for next year’s rodenticide authorisation changes, which will effectively prevent the use of any second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) in open areas away from buildings, the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) is appealing for practical questions that first need to be addressed.

Modifying the various measures used for the lasting, affordable, environmentally responsible, and wildlife-aware control of rodent vermin, especially rats, in open areas will be a challenge for gamekeepers, and this has been acknowledged by CRRU. A sound knowledge of next year’s changes to SGAR authorisations will therefore be required, along with an understanding of why the changes are being made.

CRRU is responsible for managing the UK’s Rodenticide Stewardship Regime, and it reports to a panel led by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Seven years after its inception, the Regime’s environmental targets have still to be met, with many wildlife species, especially avian and mammalian predators and scavengers, continuing to be widely exposed to, and contaminated by, SGARs. The widespread nature of this exposure is of considerable concern, and if the targets are not met the HSE will review who can use SGARs, how they are used, and where they can be applied.  

A summary of the changes can be found here and gamekeepers are now being invited to send any questions they may have on these to CRRU by the end of October, by following this link.

A compilation of questions and responses will then be published by CRRU in November. A similar exercise has recently been conducted by the British Pest Control Association amongst its members.