FARMERS in Dorset will have peace of mind thanks to the launch of a new industry standard for pest control, experts claim.

The initiative, accompanied by a certification scheme, is designed to promote professional standards for pest control companies throughout the EU.

The new industry standard was launched last week by the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA).

CEPA is an umbrella trade body for urban pest control.

Bertrand Montmoreau, president of CEPA, said the launch of CEN standard EN16636 and CEPA Certified would have far-reaching benefits.

He said: “This will ensure pest controllers can benchmark themselves against the best in Europe and that’s great news for farmers.

“We know that in many European markets, there are some pest controllers who are untrained and do not stay up-to-date with the latest products, pests and legislation, and that can create big problems for us all.

“But with the new standard and certification scheme, farmers can be totally confident they’re getting a professional service.

“This will enable us to portray a positive image to the general public of the vital role that our industry plays at a European level in terms of public health, food safety, environmental sustainability and economic significance. It is a key part of our effort to protect citizens responsibly.”

CEPA went out to develop a standard five years ago by which professional companies in pest management could be measured. CEN represents the European Committee for Standardisation. Alongside other bodies, CEN helps develop European standards and technical specifications across a wide range of sectors.

This new scheme is built around EN16636, a new European standard developed by the industry in collaboration with experts from CEN and other bodies.

Dr Peter Whittall, of Tripod Consulting, who helped develop the standard, said: “We brought together ideas from across Europe of what best practice looked like. People in the industry developed the standard to make sure it is relevant and defines what a quality job is.

“Pest control is changing and we are no longer simply ‘rat catchers’. It is now about how you protect assets and public health, for example from allergies or the spread of diseases, and tackle issues such as the falling resistance in pests to the biocides we use.

To meet the standard, companies will be assessed upon joining the scheme and at 18-month intervals thereafter.