Pest Control Professionals

The EPA has proposed changes that will fundamentally impact how professional rodent control is conducted, effectively eliminating responsible usage of the most successful form of rodent control... rodenticides.

ALL Rodenticides, including Block and Soft bait forms, will become RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDES (RUPs) in sizes 4lbs and up:

Licenses to Apply Bait Will Be Mandatory

Will require anyone purchasing or applying rodenticide to be a certified applicator OR be working under the supervision of a certified applicator

Rules by State will Vary

Some states require supervising certified applicators to be available by phone when PMPs are applying bait, while others require them to be onsite within visual contact of the applicator

Point of Sale Reporting

Distributors will need to do reporting (confirm licenses and communicate back to the state) for each and every sale of rodenticide, by applicator

THESE PRODUCTS ARE ALREADY HIGHLY REGULATED

MORE RED TAPE AND COST WILL BE DETRIMENTAL TO BUSINESS & THE PUBLIC HEALTH
These changes will increase cost of pest control, add costs to food safety and, in some cases, force unnecessary business closures due to increased rodent presence and destruction.

Pest control operators are highly trained and licensed applicators of rodenticide, adhering to strict rules and regulations.

Continuing education on rodent control best practices is an on-going requirement.

It does not make sense to further regulate the professionals who are the most educated on how best to use these necessary tools to protect the public health.

Who Wants More Rats?

Rodent populations & food contamination are increasing – this will make it worse.

Paperwork

Imposes unnecessary burdens on pest control distributors as documentation and record keeping of licenses of rodenticides, with rodenticides being one of the most sold products
Many municipalities, cities & states conduct their own rodent control to protect public health. Costs to these local governments will skyrocket making the costs to protect the public untenable.
Restraint of trade: unfair to pest control companies that do not live in major urban areas and may not be able to get product

Labor

Licensed technicians will be required in order to apply every day, common, rodent control service.
Many applicators aren't licensed, causing more acute label shortages.

Cost to License

The cost to license every pest control technician will be great
Education, training and time away from the job site will contribute to higher costs
States will have to add additional work force to process applications

Contamination

Rodents can carry up to 55 different diseases
Contributes to salmonella and E. coli breakouts
Dangerous to have rodent waste in our food chain

Tourism Decline

One bad negative review can now spread online like wildfire
Social media can close down a business with a single experience with a rat or mouse
Hotels and restaurants have had enough challenges the past several years and they need to be clean and open for business

Higher Food Costs

Cost to fight rodents at farmers and producers goes up
More difficult to store food away from rodents
Groceries become more expensive to protect