Farmers gain access to pest controller rat bait

A rat bait widely used by professional pest controllers is now being made available to farmers certified under the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime.

Romax Rat CP is one of a limited number of products authorised for use in ‘outdoors – open areas’ as defined by the stewardship regime.

The first formal assessment of the stewardship regime from the HSE-led Government Oversight Group (GOG) has confirmed the regime is fit for purpose.

However, it states an expectation of reducing second generation anticoagulant residues in Barn Owls as a sentinel species, warning that failure to meet this may result in changes to the regime.

Recognising practical reality in its report, GOG 'does not under-estimate the significance of this challenge and recognises the significant efforts and achievements of CRRU and all involved'. In particular, the report notes the challenge of getting stewardship standards in place on 100,000 farms.

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