Criteria for professional pest controllers in the field

1. Chemical agents should never be used preventively on a continuous basis, but only as part of control efforts during episodes of elevated pest pressure (curative use). The control plan should define 'elevated pest pressure' for each location.
2. The use of anticoagulants is permitted only if it is impossible to eliminate the 'elevated pest pressure' with non-chemical methods.
3. Anticoagulants can never be used in the open field. If outdoor use is deemed essential, anticoagulants can be used only in the area immediately surrounding buildings or food storage locations.
4. A source-based approach is taken to pest control. If the source of the infestation is located outside the terrain, and this cannot be dealt with directly, supplementary measures must be taken in the form of consultation and agreements with neighbours, the municipality and inspection services. If the source cannot be dealt with directly, long-term control with anticoagulants is not permitted. This concerns locations where higher pest pressure occurs regularly, such as port facilities and waste management companies. Also included are residential areas in which birds are fed excessively or waste/food residues are dumped (urban areas) or nearby hobby farmers who have not taken adequate rat-control measures. In these situations, identification and registration of source areas is essential, and regional cooperation is desirable to minimise the use of anticoagulants, whereby other parties must also take responsibility.
5. For the professional pest controller, a good diagnostic tool box, and possibly a decision tree, are needed. These can be used to determine whether the outdoor use of anticoagulants is truly essential. The criteria for transition to the use of anticoagulants must be clear and verifiable.
6. The response plan includes a risk assessment. Both the risk assessment and the monitoring should pay specific attention to the risks for humans, pets, livestock and wildlife. Particular attention should be paid to the risk of primary and secondary toxicity for non-target species. This could include an inventory of the types and numbers of non-target species in the immediate area and the risk of primary and secondary toxicity for these species. Furthermore, avoiding environmental contamination and cleaning up residues deserve additional attention, including the removal of rat droppings and carcasses.
7. The choice to use anticoagulants must be supported and registered (in the pest control plan) based on the diagnostic toolbox.
8. Pest control activities are registered by the pest controller, and the results of each pest control activity are evaluated so that lessons can be drawn from successful and unsuccessful control activities.
9. Preventive measures between curative periods are registered by the pest controller in the pest control plan, and the results are evaluated so that lessons can be drawn from successful and unsuccessful measures. If preventive measures are no longer adequate, these should be supplemented where possible.
10. The exchange of knowledge between professional pest controllers is facilitated by industry organisations or educational institutions. Relevant results are fed back to the inspection services and the Ctgb.
11. Customers and professional pest controllers collaborate on the implementation of non-chemical alternatives. The pest controllers and the customers hold consultations to clarify the new requirements for outdoor use, and where necessary adapt control plans and contracts to the new situation.
12. Information about reduced performance and possible resistance in rats and mice to anticoagulants is collected and communicated by the pest controller.