Implications to Pest Management and Public Health from Proposed Amendments to The Hunting Act 2004
The National Pest Technicians Association represents professional pest controllers operating across a wide range of sectors including public health, food production, agriculture, local authority services, and commercial environments. Our members work within a highly regulated framework and play a critical role in protecting people, property, and the wider environment.
As discussions continue around potential changes to wildlife and hunting related legislation, the NPTA believes it is essential that pest control is clearly understood as a professional public health function and is appropriately considered during any legislative review.
Pest Management and Public Health Protection
Rodent control remains one of the most significant public health responsibilities undertaken by us as pest professionals. Uncontrolled rodent activity presents well established risks including disease transmission, structural deterioration of buildings. food and animal feed contamination.
NPTA members operate to recognised standards, follow industry codes of practice, and apply control methods proportionately and responsibly. Pest management is not undertaken for recreation or sport. It is a necessary intervention to prevent harm and reduce risk to human health.
Sean Mooney, Killine Pest Control says:
“In a world where we look to use less rodenticide , whilst still protecting public health , its of paramount importance we do not lose dogs as a professional pest management tool, they can often detect activity where humans cannot and help to bring resolution to long term issues that can have severe effects to human health.”
The Need for Clear and Proportionate Legislation
The NPTA supports clear, enforceable legislation that protects animal welfare and enables effective enforcement against illegal activity. However, it is essential that legislation is drafted with sufficient precision to avoid unintended consequences for lawful pest control.
Professional pest management may involve the use of trained dogs in tightly controlled circumstances where this is necessary, proportionate, and appropriate to the environment. Without explicit clarity in legal definitions, there is a risk that legitimate pest control activity could be subject to uncertainty or inconsistent interpretation.
Clear exemptions for professional pest control are not loopholes. They are an essential safeguard to ensure that public health work can continue lawfully and transparently.
Philip Van der Watt, Bridgend Pest Control says:
“I use a dog regularly when controlling rats. The most common way we use a dog is when a rat is trapped in a room hiding under furniture or even in behind kitchen units . My dog has located and dispatched numerous rats in situations like this sometimes within minutes of being on site .
They are Invaluable in some situations in my opinion. No rodenticide is needed. No lengthy trapping program and a very happy customer and a quick resolution.
A Profession Governed by Standards and Accountability
Pest control professionals are already subject to multiple layers of regulation, including health and safety law, food safety standards, environmental protection requirements, and animal welfare legislation. Training, competence, record keeping, and auditing are integral to professional practice.
The NPTA promotes continuous improvement, compliance, and high standards across the industry. Any changes to legislation that affect pest management should recognise this existing framework and build upon it, rather than create ambiguity that undermines compliance and enforcement.
The NPTA Technical Committee is asking for
“Legal certainty is essential for pest professionals operating in complex and high-risk environments. Clear, unambiguous exemptions within legislation ensure that enforcement bodies, regulators, and practitioners share a common understanding of what constitutes lawful pest management activity. Without this clarity, there is a real risk of inconsistent interpretation that could hinder essential public health work.”
The Importance of Consultation and Evidence
Effective legislation is informed by evidence and shaped through consultation with those who have practical experience of its application. The NPTA strongly advocates for engagement with pest professionals when considering changes that may affect pest management activities.
Consultation ensures that legislation achieves its intended aims while maintaining essential public health protections and supporting animal welfare outcomes.
Conclusion
The NPTA welcomes constructive dialogue on legislative reform and stands ready to contribute expert insight from across its membership. Protecting public health, supporting animal welfare, and maintaining legal clarity are shared objectives that can only be achieved through informed and proportionate policy making.
Professional pest control is an essential service. Ensuring that legislation recognises this reality is vital to safeguarding public health and maintaining high standards across the industry.
Supporting Engagement with MPs and Policymakers
The NPTA recognises the importance of constructive engagement with elected representatives as part of any legislative review process. To support informed discussion, we have prepared a template letter that pest control professionals can use to write to their local MP.
The letter sets out, from a practitioner’s perspective, the role of pest management in protecting public health, food safety, and animal welfare, and highlights the importance of maintaining clear and workable exemptions for legitimate pest control activities within any amendments to the Hunting Act.
Members and stakeholders are encouraged to personalise the letter with their own experience and submit it to their local MP to help ensure that policy decisions are informed by practical, evidence-based insight from the field.
