Illegal pesticide amnesty to end

The Campaign Against Accidental or Illegal Poisoning has issued a reminder to gamekeepers and land managers that, under a current amnesty, they have until the end of this month to dispose of illegal pesticides without fear of prosecution.

The Public Health Pesticide Disposal Scheme, which has been running since the start of 2009, is supported by both the National Pest Technicians Association and the British Pest Control Association. So far the amnesty’s organisers have received more than half a tonne of products from the public.

The British Pest Control Association’s Oliver Madge told Shooting Times that once the scheme has closed, gamekeepers will face the full penalties of the law if they hold illegal pesticides. “It is vital that people take this opportunity to dispose of out-of-date and revoked products, as there will not be another opportunity like this,” he said.

The scheme came about after the industry agreed to a concerted drive to rid pest control stores of out-of-date products or those that have lapsed approvals for use in the UK.

“This is a great chance to clear out those products that are sitting in your pesticide stores without fear of prosecution,” added Mr Madge. “Pesticides that are out of date or recently revoked due to the requirements of the Biocides Product Directive are illegal to use or hold in stock.” Importantly, it is the responsibility of landowners and gamekeepers to arrange for proper pesticide disposal. According to the Public Health Pesticide Disposal Scheme: It is your responsibility to arrange and pay for the transportation and disposal of these products. Various routes of disposal are listed on the waste disposal page of the scheme’s website (www.phpds.org.uk) and your pesticide distributor will have more information. Assistance may be available from mainstream distributors, but do
not expect it.

The rest of this article appears in 19 March issue of Shooting Times.

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