pest and disease control ‘We cannot afford R


etailers of pest and disease control products will need to be aware of upcoming changes to the sale of


rodenticides, as well as calls for vigilance against recently spotted pests which pose a threat to certain plants. Plant health authorities are urging palm


growers, importers and retailers to be on the lookout for Red palm weevil, a threat to palm trees, which was identified in the UK for the first time in October 2016. The Red palm weevil does not pose any risk


to people, pets or livestock but is known to attack and kill a large range of palm species popular in the UK, the authorities confirmed. The pest was accidently introduced to Spain in 1994 and since then it has spread widely in the Mediterranean region where it has devastated ornamental palms. It was found in the UK for the first time in October 2016 inside a round- leaf fountain palm imported from Italy, which had been purchased in Essex. Chief plant health officer for the UK


Professor Nicola Spence comments: “We are committed to doing everything possible to prevent plant pests and diseases crossing our borders and, although we cannot eliminate all risks, we have stringent plans to deal with threats and take prompt action when they are detected. “In this case we quickly implemented our


contingency plan with colleagues in the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) when this finding was reported to us. We surveyed susceptible palm trees within 10km of the affected tree and found no further signs of it. However we cannot afford to be complacent and I am appealing to the trade to look out for the Red palm weevil over the coming months and to source material carefully to avoid importing unwanted pests such as this into the UK.” Incoming changes in legislation for pest


control will also have retailers and suppliers adapting to ensure they meet new requirements, as reported in GCU sister publication DIY Week. New regulations for buying and using


rodenticides mean that professional users now need a certificate of competence in order to make the purchase and it is the retailer’s responsibility to check that before making the


16 | www.gardencentreupdate.com


to be complacent’ With upcoming changes to regulations, pest and disease control product retailers need to make sure they are compliant


sale. While non-professional users of rodenticide products don’t need to provide accreditation, retailers selling products to these end-users must still adhere to strict new guidelines to keep within the law. Under these guidelines, all products offered


for sale must be labelled as being authorised for non-professional use and clearly identified as such. Products must be sold only in their original packaging, and all pack sizes offered for sale must comply with restricted pack sizes for non-professional use – currently 1.5kg or less. Restrictions on and potential bans of a


number of active ingredients in rodenticides – the majority of which are classified as anticoagulants – are also being considered under the Biocidal Products Review process. Barrettine group managing director Steve Bailey told DIY Week that these decisions are inextricably linked and form part of what he describes as a “complex picture”. He explains: “The strength of many of the existing products/actives are often the same, regardless of whether they are amateur approved or professional use products. So, arguably, all users should be following the same codes of best practise to protect health, non-target species and the environment.” As many as 51 active ingredients are


currently being considered, including Bromadiolone, Warfarin, and Difethialone, and it is the responsibility of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) to introduce new rules over the sale and use of products in the amateur market. One notable change that is already set to


come into force is a reduction in the concentrate of the active ingredients in these products. “Amateur products can still be sold with the active ingredients but in different concentrates to those used in professional rodenticides,” explains Steve. Currently, in many popular baits, the maximum concentration is 50 parts per million (ppm). However, this maximum concentration will now be reduced to below 30 ppm. “And, as far as we understand, this will apply to any rodenticide active ingredient that remains on the market,” adds Steve. There will also be a further reduction in the maximum pack size of products allowed for


sale to amateur users, which Steve says will be “much lower” than the current 1.5kg. Discussions are still ongoing and it may depend on the individual product as to when the changes or phasing out will come into place. “As we understand it,” Steve continues, “the end of February 2018 is the last date that products with existing labels at 50ppm active can be sold. New products at the lower active rate of below 30ppm are likely to be available ahead of that February deadline.” The use of these active ingredients is being assessed in terms of risk to the consumer, as well as that posed to the environment, with reports of non-target animals ingesting the products.


As rodenticide suppliers scrabble to reformulate their products in anticipation of prospective bans, it is understandably constricting the market. Rentokil products manager David Hall says: “The market is getting squeezed more because of the pressures of the BPR, meaning there are more restrictions on active ingredients and so fewer products available.”


However, not all companies are feeling the burn just yet. “So far, the enforcement of the stewardship has not directly impacted on STV, since the bulk of our sales are for amateur use and out of scope of stewardship,” explains STV product manager Ed Deane. “This year’s change of amateur packs is of much greater significance, as all of our products will have to be reviewed before the 50ppm products have to come off shelf in early 2018.”


However, he says of potential bans on active ingredients: “Moving to a BPR-ready formulation before your competitors do puts your market position at risk, so there is a real tension between commercial imperatives and long-term supply to manage.”


In the meantime, suppliers are attempting to keep retailers informed of progress. Ed adds: “We have been talking to the larger retailers for some time, flagging up the changeover and understanding their implementation timelines. Over the coming months, we’ll be talking to the wider customer base. This is a big change for the market to accommodate and retailers will look to their supply chain for clear advice and to help them manage the transition with as little disruption as possible.”


GCU May 2017


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