Farmers, gamekeepers, and pest controllers are reminded that they have until January 2026 to adhere to changes in second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs), covered by the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime.

Purchasers and users of SGARs must possess a stewardship-specific training certificate that is less than five years old. Alternatively, they can hold an older certificate along with evidence of membership in a stewardship-specific Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme.

However, upon near expiry of the five-year certificates, holders have the option to undergo training to re-qualify or enrol in a CPD scheme. Directors of the stewardship regime operator, the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK (CRRU), deemed the changes necessary for the regime to fulfil its objectives.

Upon its establishment in 2016, the HSE-led Government Oversight Group (GOG) formulated the goal of minimising wildlife exposure to rodenticides. While the primary causes of death to barn owls each year have been identified as vehicle collisions or starvation.

Rodenticide exposure is measured through the frequency of SGAR residues in annual surveys of deceased owls sent to the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme by members of the public. Dr. Alan Buckle, chairman of CRRU, highlights that despite significant advancements by all three user groups, the target has not been achieved.

He describes: “The most recent headline is that a stubbornly static 80% of barn owls carry residues of one or more SGARs.

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“These changes are designed to strengthen stewardship and protect essential uses of rodenticides for all professional user sectors, especially farmers, by meeting GOG environmental targets.

“Another important strengthening measure, announced in May 2023, was that from July 2024, none of the five SGARs available in the UK can be purchased for use in ‘open areas’ away from buildings.

"Clearly, this change makes it more important than ever to read rodenticide product labels carefully and make sure they can be applied legally in the intended locations.”