HOPES THAT NEXT-GENERATION RODENTICIDES WILL REDUCE SECONDARY POISONING RISK TO RAPTORS

                                                     

Andy Ransom - 'responsibilities to biodiversity' 

THE next generation of rodenticides will "move away from chemical-based solutions" according to Andy Ransom, the boss of UK pest control company Rentokil-Initial.

The observation came from the chief executive in response to a shareholder's question about growing concerns among naturalists that a wide range of raptors, both diurnal and nocturnal, are perishing  after eating mice, rats and other rodents that have ingested poison.

Because of commercial confidentiality, Mr Ransom declined to reveal any further information about potential new chemical-free products, nor when they might be introduced to the market.

Speaking at today's company AGM in Crawley, West Sussex, he acknowledged that some pest control firms and farmers used rodenticides in "less controlled ways" but insisisted that Rentokil operatives were trained to take the company's responsibilities to biodioversity very seriously.

"The purpose of our products is protect people and enhance their lives where they are threatened by rats or mice," he declared. "But we are founder-members of the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use and do our utmost to to reduce the likelihood of secondary poisoning of our beautiful birds of prey and other wildlife."