PEST CONTROL LEGISLATION

There are a several pieces of legislation that deal with pests. At Pestforce we can help you comply with the law and prevent the risk of prosecution.

Should you not comply with legislation.

Fines and Penalties can include:

• Fines of up to £5,000 pounds and a six months to two years prison sentence for each offence, or if a major offence, fines up to £20,000 pounds. Unlimited fines in crown court.
• Closures of premises and prohibition orders.
• Loss of reputation, business and income profits.
• Notice to improve the business and seizure of unfit food
• Recovery of expenses incurred by the Local Authority from the business owners.
• Disqualification from catering for up to two years.
• Employers must take the necessary measures to secure the health, safety and welfare of employees and other people, to avoid, for example, pathogenic diseases carried by pests, slippery conditions caused by bird droppings, bites from fleas and contamination of food by pests.

YOUR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY

The legislation listed below is enforced by agencies such as Environmental Health Departments of Local Authorities and the Health and Safety Executive.

Prevention of Damage by Pests Act
If a pest is present in a business which is involved in the storage, manufacture, transport, or sale of food, the owner must take steps to control the infestation or notify the Local Authority.

Food Safety Act
Businesses or organisations that are involved in the manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, preparation, packaging or the selling of food must ensure that food is fit for human consumption. It is an offence to supply, sell, advertise or be in possession of food that is not.

Food premises must be kept in good condition, clean and free from pests. Food and food products must be prevented from being damaged or contaminated by pests.

Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations
This Act states that food must not be contaminated by any pest species and food premises should have suitable controls in place to do this. They should protect food against external sources of pests and must also avoid harbouring pests within their premises.

Refuse stores should be designed and constructed to prevent pests gaining access. Windows in food preparation, processing or treatment rooms must, where necessary, be fitted with insect screens.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (C.O.S.H.H.)
These regulations, made under the Health and Safety at Work Act are designed to protect people from harmful substances that they may encounter at work. Each time our technicians visit your premises, they complete a treatment report which lists the substance or pesticide used.

A pesticide checklist is also present in the pest control reporting system which is left on site with our pest control contract customers, which gives further details on these substances. Safety Data Sheets are available on request or from our website pestforce.co.uk.

Our pest control technicians are all trained and equipped to apply pesticides correctly and safely. All pesticides used are approved by the Control of Pesticides Regulations and treatment applications are done so appropriately.