Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the additional cost to farmers of purchasing rodent control products as a result of the recent change to the licensing of such products.

The rodent control products in question contain anticoagulant chemicals which are very harmful to humans and the environment. In particular, when used outdoors, these products pose unacceptable risks to non-target mammals and birds such as barn owls.

The changes are the result of an industry led initiative, the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime, introduced to enable the continued use of professional anticoagulant rodenticides in the UK. The body that oversees the operation of the regime is the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU). CRRU membership includes all of the major rodenticide manufacturers, the pest control industry, the farming sector and gamekeepers.

The regime requires those who choose to use professional quantities of rodenticides to demonstrate they are competent to do so, for example through membership of an approved farm assurance scheme or by taking a free self-study course for farmers. As the regime is industry led, the government has not assessed the cost to farmers.