Pest Control Legislation.  Indicative Advisory Notes

There are several pieces of legislation that deal with pests and pest prevention and each industry is governed by its own set of health, safety and hygiene rules. They affect businesses whether they handle food or not and Premier Pest Services can help you comply with the law. The legislation listed below is enforced by agencies such as Environmental Health Departments of Local Authorities and the Health and Safety Executive. If you do not comply with these pieces of legislation you may receive substantial penalties, according to the offence committed. These can include:

* Fines up to £20,000 for each offence.

* 6 months to 2 years imprisonment.

* Unlimited fines in Crown courts.

* Closures of premises. 

* Loss of reputation, business and income profits.

Premier Pest Services can help you to comply with the law. The treatments and advice that we provide are to help prevent the risk of prosecution, working safely to minimise the risks to your business. The major pieces of legislation are:

Prevention of Damage by Pests Act If a pest is present in a business that is involved in the storage, manufacture, transport, or sale of food, the owner must take steps to control the infestation or notify the Local Authority.
Penalties include:

* Notice to improve the business.  

* Recovery of expenses incurred by the Local Authority from the business owners.

Food Safety Act Businesses or organisations that are involved in the manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, preparation, packaging or the selling of food must ensure that food is fit for human consumption. It is an offence to supply, sell, advertise or be in possession of food that is not.  Food premises must be kept in good condition, clean and free from rubbish that may attract pests. Food and food products must be prevented from being damaged or contaminated by pests. Penalties include:

* Improvement Notices. Prohibition Orders to close premises.

* Seizure of unfit food.

* Disqualification from catering for up to two years.

* In Crown Courts unlimited fines and up to two years imprisonment.

* Fines up to 5,000 pounds and a six months prison sentence for each offence, or if a major offence, fines up to 20,000 pounds.

Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations This Act states that food must not be contaminated by any pest species and food premises should have suitable controls in place to do this. They should protect food against external sources of pests and must also avoid harbouring pests within their premises. Refuse stores should be designed and constructed to prevent pests gaining access and windows in food preparation, processing or treatment rooms must, where necessary, be fitted with insect-proof screens. Penalties include:

* As described under the Food Safety Act above.

Health and Safety at Work Act (Including Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations)Employers must take the necessary measures to secure the health, safety and welfare of employees and other people, to avoid, for example, pathogenic diseases carried by pests, slippery conditions caused by bird droppings, bites from fleas and contamination of food by pests.

Penalties include:

* Improvement Notices.

* Prohibition Notices.

* Maximum Penalty two years imprisonment plus unlimited fines.

C.O.S.H.H ( Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations) These Regulations, made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act are designed to protect people from harmful substances that they may encounter at work. Each time our technicians visit your premises, they complete a Pest Prevention report which lists the substances which have been used, in order to minimise the risks that accompany the use of pesticides. A Schedule of Pesticides is also present in the Pest Prevention Folders that we provide to our contract customers, which gives further details on these substances. Safety Data Sheets are also available on request. Premier Pest Services technicians are trained and equipped to apply pesticides correctly and safely. All the pesticides that we use are approved by the Control of Pesticides Regulations and treatments are made in the appropriate places where they will be most effective.

The above notes are based on the companies understanding of the regulatory requirements and obligations of the appropriate acts at the time of going to press in August 07. These notes are intended as a guide only and must not be acted upon before taking professional advice.