Regulations effecting pest control

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Pest Control Specialists for London & SE


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Described is a brief summary of the Laws and Regulations which can directly affect the responsibilities a business has towards not only its clients but also their employees when it comes to controlling Pests on their premises.

The Laws & Regulations cover not only businesses associated with the Food & Beverage Industry, but virtually all business that either employs someone or interacts with the public. It is intended as a guide only and not a full comprehensive list of current legislation.


	Laws & Regulations that affect: The Food & Beverage Industry All businesses (including the Food & Beverage Industry)

	Food & Beverage Industry. These provisions apply to all Businesses and Commercial activities which involve Food at any stage, whether it be manufacturing, storing, preparing or selling fresh or packaged food items. Food Safety Act (1990) sets out in: Section 7 that it is an offense ‘to render food that is injurious to health, which is unfit for human consumption or is so contaminated that it would not be reasonable to expect it to be used for human consumption’. Section 8 the offense of ‘selling or possessing for sale food that does not comply with food safety requirements’. Section 14 that it is an offense ‘to sell food which is not of the 'nature or substance or quality' demanded by the ‘purchaser’. Food Safety Standards, the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations (1995) and Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations (1995) also emphasize the need for high hygiene standards and the prevention of the contamination of food. Prevention of Damage by Pests Act (1949). Part Two - Infestation of Food It is the responsibility of any person whose business includes: The manufacture, storage, transport or sale of food, to inform the local authorities if there is any evidence of infestation to food. This also includes any goods which are in contact or likely to come into contact with food manufactured, stored, transported or sold. Any person whose business consists of the manufacture, sale, repair or cleaning of food containers, must also give notice to the local authorities, if any evidence of infestation is found. If evidence of infestation is found, the authorities may carry out the following action: * Prohibit or restrict the use for manufacture, storage, transport or sale of food, of any equipment or vehicles belonging to any premises which is or is likely to become infested. * Prohibit or restrict the acceptance, delivery, retention or removal of any infested food or any other infested goods which are likely to come into contact with food manufactured, stored, transported or sold. * Require the carrying out of structural work, or the application of any form of treatment deemed necessary for preventing or remedying infestation in any premises, vehicle, equipment, food or other goods. f the infestation cannot be remedied by treatment, the authorities may allow for any contaminated equipment to be destroyed. Anyone failing to comply with the above Acts and Regulations will be guilty of an offense and fined accordingly. The authorities then have the right to reclaim any costs incurred, whilst carrying out any further treatment on the owner/tenants behalf.

All Business (including the Food & Beverage Industry)

The Prevention of Damage by Pest Act (1949)

Part One

It is the duty of the local authorities to:
* destroy rats and mice on land which they occupy, and to keep such land so far as practicable free from rats and mice.
* to enforce the duties of owners and occupiers of land, to carry out such operations to rid their land of potential hazard causing pests.

The Public Health Act 1961

Sections 35-36 Verminous Premises

When a local authority have substantial evidence that a premises is verminous, notice will be given to the owner or occupier to make the necessary arrangements to rid the premises of the vermin. The local authority also have the right to specify the vacation of the premises, until deemed safe for inhabitation.

Section 37 Prohibition of the sale of verminous goods

No dealer shall sell, offer for sale or prepare for sale, any household article to his/her knowledge, that is known to be verminous. If a dealer should continue to offer the sale of verminous goods, a medical officer or public health inspector may order the item to be disinfected or destroyed, then removed from the premises. The local authority may recover any costs incurred, through the local county courts. The dealer may also be subjected to a fine
"Dealer" refers to a person who trades or deals in any household articles.
"Household articles" means an article of furniture, bedding or clothing or any similar article.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Employers have to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees.

It is an employer’s duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees, and other people who might be affected by what they do. Your employer must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this.

Every employer must have a health and safety policy, explaining how they will manage health and safety, and who is responsible for what. Your employer must identify the hazards you might face at work, assess the risk that these hazards will affect you and detail the steps that will be taken to prevent those risks.