Information Update: 14/2011
Issued: 23/08/2011
At Norwich Magistrates Court on 17th August 2011 Rodent Services East Anglia pleaded guilty to four offences of failing to use a pesticide in accordance with the conditions of the approval and not taking all reasonable precautions in breach of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and The Control of Pesticides Regulations. They were fined a total of £3,350.
The offences were uncovered after a dead fox was discovered by a Wymondham landowner. Pesticide poisoning was suspected and the case was accepted under the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme. Analysis for pesticides confirmed rodenticides in the fox’s liver and this was considered to be a contributory factor to its death.
The Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD), requested further investigation. Natural England in conjunction with the Norfolk Constabulary, who subsequently brought the charges against the company, carried out further enquiries to establish the source of the poisoning. Investigations revealed that Rodent Services East Anglia was carrying out work at a close-by farm. They were using the rodenticide, Roban. The product label for Roban states that users must search for and dispose of rodent carcasses at frequent intervals. The investigation found that on two occasions there was a period of 86 days during which searches were not carried out by pest control staff. It was during this time period that the poisoned fox was found dead. The company also failed on these occasions to take all reasonable precautions because the company
- Used the product without the production of an environmental risk assessment
- Used the product for a period longer than directed on the label.
- Failed to inspect the bait points during the first 10 – 14 days of the treatment, as directed on the label.
For all offences the company was fined £3,250, with costs and victim surcharge of £100, making a total of £3,350.
Rodent Services East Anglia has no connection with another company East Anglian Pest Control based in Ipswich.
