American Pest Acquires Capitol Pest
10/01/2021
Fulton, MD, September 30, 2021—American Pest, the leading provider in modern, preventive pest management throughout Maryland, Washington D.C....
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Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a statement announcing that they are taking steps to protect children, pets and wildlife by decreasing the risk of rodenticide products sold to residential customers. American Pest is committed to providing its customers the most up-to-date information about regulations that impact our industry and especially the services we provide in your home or property. To read the EPA’s statement, click here.
In 2008, the EPA gave rodenticide manufacturers a deadline of June 4th, 2011 to research, develop and register new products that would emphasize child and pet safety while maintaining efficacy for eliminating rats and mice. These new restrictions only apply to rodenticide products sold over-the-counter to residential customers in retail outlets like Home Depot and Lowe’s.
The EPA’s decision was motivated by reports from the American Association of Poison Control Centers indicating that 12,000-15,000 children below the age of six are accidentally exposed to rodenticides every year. Many of these instances happen when homeowners conduct their own rodent control practices without reading the labels properly or consulting a pest management professional (PMP). The biggest concerns in failing to take these precautions include bait stations being left at ground level for children, pets or wildlife to tamper with or pellet-shaped bait being mistaken for candy by a curious child.
With the June 4th deadline now past for this new ruling, the EPA can begin the process of publishing final cancellation orders in the Federal Register, which will detail when rodenticide manufacturing companies must stop manufacturing the products, how much longer they can be sold and how long do-it-yourself consumers can use their purchased products. The EPA follows this protocol to allow the remaining product to be used up rather than being dumped or thrown away.
Rodenticide manufacturers that have complied with the EPA order have received assistance from the regulating agency in developing and registering new homeowner products. For manufacturers that have refused to fulfill the orders, the EPA still plans to begin cancellation proceedings as authorized under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to have the now out-dated products removed from the market.
The EPA strongly recommends consumers contact pest management professionals for rodent control rather than doing it themselves. Professional pest control technicians are licensed and certified to apply rodent control treatments while observing proper rules and label limitations. If you do choose to “do-it-yourself,” EPA recommends observing these tips whenever using rodenticides in your home:
- Place traps and baits where children and pets cannot reach them.
- Carefully read the label and observe all directions and precautions.
- Select traps that are fitting to the type and size of rodent. (Example, rat vs. mouse.)
American Pest emphasizes that the keys to rodent control are prevention and identification. Check our blog to find information about how to keep rodents out of your home. Please contact our customer service representatives at 301-891-2600 or contact us online if you have any questions or comments about this issue.
