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<p>Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs), including brodifacoum, were
developed to address public health and other concerns arising from increasing resistance
among rats and mice to the longstanding use of existing rodenticides.</p><p> </p><p>During
the authorisation process, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducts rigorous
evaluation for safety and efficacy using scientific data, with restrictions placed
on authorisations as appropriate. In order to avoid secondary poisoning risks to non-target
species, current product authorisations restrict the use of SGARs in open areas to
farmers, gamekeepers and other trained professionals where other integrated pest management
approaches fail to control rodent populations. Some SGARs, including brodifacoum,
can only be used in sewers and in and around buildings. There has been no change in
the authorised areas of use of brodifacoum products since the renewals of their authorisations
from 2017.</p><p> </p><p>A stewardship regime is in place in the UK for professional
use of SGARs, including brodifacoum. A cornerstone of the stewardship scheme is the
<a href="https://www.thinkwildlife.org/code-of-best-practice/crru-code/" target="_blank">Campaign
for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) Code of Best Practice</a>, which sets out guidance
on the safe use of rodenticides. It is a legal requirement to comply with this code.</p><p>
</p><p>The stewardship scheme is overseen by a Government Oversight Group (GOG) led
by HSE with representatives of other government stakeholders, who meet annually to
assess its impact. This year the GOG is conducting a review of the stewardship scheme
after five years of operation and will publish its findings in due course. The review
will look at the performance of the scheme in three key areas: the governance of the
supply chain, improving workforce competence and the monitoring of compliance. The
latter includes considering the monitoring of exposure arrangements and looking in
more detail at monitoring data.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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