Rodenticide use and supply

Topics: Biocides

Rodents, such as mice and rats, can carry diseases that can harm people, cause damage to buildings and/or spoil foodstuffs.

Control of rodents

There are several chemical and non-chemical methods for controlling rodents, these include:

good hygiene practices
physical barriers
traps
biocidal products

The use and supply of Biocidal products in Northern Ireland (NI) is governed by the EU Biocidal Products Regulations (EU BPR). Biocidal products that control rodents by attraction (like traps) are covered by product type 19 of the EU BPR. Biocidal products that control rodents by other means, such as poisons, are known as rodenticides and are covered by product type 14 of the EU BPR.

Rodenticides authorised for use in Northern Ireland

Types of rodenticides authorised for use in Northern Ireland include:

various types of bait that are intended to be eaten directly by the rodents:
- pellets
- pastes
- blocks
- grains
- gels
- foams that stick to the rodents' fur and be consumed as part of the animals' grooming
- gases that are released into rodent burrows

Details of the individual rodenticide products authorised for use in Northern Ireland can be found on the UK List of Authorised Biocidal Products.

Depending on when and where they are used, some rodenticides might not be controlled under EU BPR, for example, if they are used on crops in the field they might be controlled under the:

EU Plant Protection Products Regulation (EU PPPR) in Northern Ireland

For more information on EU PPPR please visit the DAERA website.

Anticoagulant Rodenticides

Due to their nature all biocidal products pose a potential risk to people, non-target animals and the environment. Rodenticides can carry a higher risk because the way that they are used and how they look and smell, might mean that children, pets and other non-target animals are more likely to be harmed by them.

One of the most commonly used types of rodenticides are anticoagulants. Anticoagulants have been found to pose a greater risk to people and non-target animals than most other rodenticides and biocidal products. Under EU BPR products with a higher than normal or even unacceptable risk level may still be authorised, if it can be shown that the negative impact on society of not allowing their use would outweigh the risks of using them. To do this the risks must be minimised with specific measures.

An easy way to minimise this risk is to minimise the use of anticoagulants. Consider the other measures above first when needing to deal with a rodent problem. Alternative methods may have limitations, and some may not be suitable to be used in certain locations or by some types of users. Therefore, it is important to have a wide range of options available to deal with rodents including chemical and non-chemical.

General public users

In order to ensure rodenticides are used as safely as possible by the general public, rodenticide products may be restricted in ways such as:

the amount of active substance they contain
where they can be used (for example only within a bait box)
the maximum pack size that can be sold

Professional users

In order to ensure rodenticides are able to be used as safely as possible by professional users, rodenticide products may be restricted in ways such as:

the pack size that can be sold
to whom they can be sold
the types of treatment programmes that can be used (for example no permanent baiting)

Additionally, the use of anticoagulant rodenticides by professional users in Northern Ireland must follow the requirements of one of the UK rodenticide stewardship regimes.

UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regimes

To ensure the risks associated with the professional use of anticoagulant rodenticides are properly managed, manufacturers, users and other stakeholders were invited to look for ways to manage and improve good practice by professional users and in the supply chain. This led to an agreement between stakeholders and the UK Government for the need for rodenticide stewardship.

The UK government set out principles that should form the basis of any stewardship regime put forward by industry. These are:

use of Integrated Pest Management, including use of rodenticides, involving a hierarchy of risk controls for rodents
responsible use of rodenticides, when demonstrated they are needed, because of their potential threat to human, animal health and the environment
applicability to all suppliers, handlers and professional users of rodenticides approved under stewardship to address these risks
the need for the regime to be robust, effective and workable, while remaining as simple as possible
the need for the regime to cover the whole life-cycle of the rodenticide products: manufacture, supply chain, end-use, disposal and environmental fate
the enabling of good practice in the control of rodent populations, as part of an Integrated Pest Management system, while minimising resistance build-up and secondary poisoning in non-target species
delivery of key benefits, such as:
- governance of the supply chain, which gives governance over, and provides the driver for, later stages
- a competent workforce capable of delivering stewardship standards and of demonstrating an appropriate understanding and attitude toward case-specific control of rodents and use of rodenticides
- monitoring compliance with the regime and its environmental impacts, and if possible of the level of conflict reduction

The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK (CRRU UK) has developed a stewardship regime in the UK that meets the regime principles set out by the UK Government. This regime was developed with a wide range of industry sectors including farming, manufacturing, distribution, professional pest control and gamekeeping. The regime includes a code of best practice, training and certification, auditing, supply chain governance and more.

Changes to the CRRU Regime

As of 1 January 2026, professional users now must be able to either:

provide proof of training on a CRRU UK approved course, that must have been completed in the past five years
provide proof of certification on an approved course more than five years ago and be part of an approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Scheme

Evidence that you meet these requirements needs to be provided at the point of sale. Membership of a farm assurance scheme will no longer be acceptable as proof of competence, so you must ensure you meet the new requirements.

Suppliers must verify competence and keep records to demonstrate compliance with the stewardship requirements. Updated declaration forms and approved training and CPD schemes can be found through the links above.