Pest controller fined
£1000 for offences resulting in the death of honey bees
DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref
:79/08) issued by The Government News Network on 14 March 2008
At Sheffield
Magistrates Court on 12th March 2008 Mr John Allison pleaded
guilty to four offences of not taking all reasonable precautions
in using an insecticide containing bendiocarb. He was fined £200
for each offence and a further £200 towards costs.
Following an investigation into the deaths of thousands of honey
bees, carried out under the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme
(WIIS) by Defra and Natural England Mr Allison was charged that he:
* had failed to take all reasonable precautions to protect the
health of human beings, creatures and plants;
* was not competent in the use of the product;
* had not had the necessary training or instruction; and
* had failed to use the required safety clothing and eye protection.
The case was investigated under the WIIS following the discovery
of thousands of dead bees by a beekeeper. Analysis of the dead
bees showed they had died from exposure to bendiocarb. Mr Allison
had used a bendiocarb containing insecticide 'Ficam D'
to kill feral bees nesting in a tree. However Mr Allison had not
notified local beekeepers about the application prior to treatment
and bees belonging to local beekeepers had accessed the treated
area and had died.
The court was told that the manner of the operation was "a
good example of how not to carry out a pest control
treatment". In particular Mr Allison, had at the time had no
training, had not carried out a risk assessment, did not wear
Personal Protective Equipment and used the wrong application
method during windy conditions. As a consequence the product was
blown into the surrounding area and all over Mr Allison.
It is the legal duty of anyone using pesticides in the course of
their business to be trained in the safe use, including preventing
risks of non-target creatures, and preventing exposure of humans.
Training in the use of pest control products can be obtained from
The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) on 01332 294288 or on
their website. Training in the use of agricultural pesticides is
provided by the NPTC on 0247 6857300 or on their website .
Notes to editors
(1) The Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS)
investigates cases of suspected poisoning of wildlife and other
animals by pesticides in the UK. In England this work is
undertaken by Wildlife Management Adviser's of Natural
England's Wildlife Management & Licensing Service, on
behalf of the Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD) who are
responsible for policy with regard to pesticides. The public can
report incidents to a freephone hotline on 0800 321600. The
Campaign Against Illegal Poisoning of Wildlife is aimed at
deterring the illegal and careless use of pesticides, and offers
advice on legal pest control. More information on the Scheme is
available on the PSD website.
(2) The offences prosecuted were:
(a) Used a pest control product, namely Ficam D, containing
bendiocarb, without taking all reasonable precautions to protect
the health of human beings, creatures and plants as stipulated in
Schedule 3, paragraph 2 of the Control of Pesticides (Amendment)
Regulations 1997 contrary to Section 16 (12) (a) (i) of the Food
and Environment Protection Act 1985.
(b) Used a pest control product, namely Ficam D, containing
bendiocarb, without having received adequate instruction or
training as stipulated in Schedule 3, paragraph 3 (a) of the
Control of Pesticides (Amendment) Regulations 1997 contrary to
Section 16 (12) (a) (i) of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.
(c) Used a pest control product, namely Ficam D, containing
bendiocarb, and was not competent for the duties for which he was
called upon to perform, as stipulated in Schedule 3, paragraph 3
(b) of the Control of Pesticides (Amendment) Regulations 1997
contrary to Section 16 (12) (a) (i) of the Food and Environment
Protection Act 1985.
(d) Used a pest control product, namely Ficam D, containing
bendiocarb and in so doing contravened the conditions for approval
of that product by failing to wear adequate respiratory equipment
or eye protection, as stipulated in Section 4, paragraph 5 (b) (i)
of the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 contrary to Section
16 (12) (a) (ii) of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website http://www.defra.gov.uk
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