An update on the Victorian Government's decision on Rodent Glue Boards. All pesties, but especially Victorian ones should look this over.
Glueboards for Rodent Management
UPDATE 18/12/2008
In 2005 the Bureau of Animal Welfare, DPI Victoria published a Regulatory Impact Statement with the aim of banning glueboards for rodent management. There were about 120 responses to the RIS, split roughly 50/50 for and against. However over 80% of those in favour of banning them were individuals compared to most of those against from Associations and companies.
With the sunsetting of the 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation' in December 2008 the BAW released its proposed replacement Regulations in mid October for submissions by mid November. BAW proposed that the new Regulations would include a description of traps that may be used - 'prescribed traps'. If the trap is not listed, it is banned. Glueboards were not listed and therefore to be banned.
Any comment on glueboards was difficult to find - nothing in the executive summary (where it stated all major changes were listed), no heading in the accompanying explanatory paper, just a small heading a quarter of the way through a 200 page document. Amongst other inaccuracies, it stated that rodent control could be achieved in food manufacturing establishments just using multi-catch traps - this was taken from an American text where mice are the major problem, whereas rats are the main problem in food processing in Australia and, of course, rats do not go to MCTs.
Yesterday (18/12/2008) the Victorian Government released the new Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008. We are delighted to report that, although the Animal Welfare Bureau recommended banning glueboards, the Minister saw fit to include glue traps as a prescribed trap but restricted their use to licensed pest managers only. This is in line with the Tasmanian legislation where glueboards are banned but there is Ministerial exemption for licensed Pest Managers.
The Victorian Regulation on glue traps is:
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008
Division 9—Glue traps
53 Requirements for setting or using glue traps
A person must not set or use a glue trap unless—
(a) the person is a commercial pest control operator; and
(b) the person sets or uses the trap for the purposes of trapping rodents; and
(c) the person has been approved by the Minister to set or use the trap; and
(d) the person sets or uses the trap in accordance with any determination by the Minister as to—
(i) the period of time during which setting or using a glue trap is permitted; and
(ii) any other conditions of setting or using a glue trap that the Minister considers appropriate.
The Bureau of Animal Welfare web site then has the following comment:
Approval notice for use of glue traps for commercial pest controllers
A copy of the notice of approval for use of glue traps for commercial pest controllers in Victoria and conditions of use can be downloaded via this link
(Please note that the link mentioned in the BAW statement above is not yet active)
Approval notice for use of Glue Traps in Victoria - notice pending approval
Earlier this year, the Pest Management industry developed 'Guidelines for the use of rodent glueboards'. These 'Guidelines' have been adopted by Tasmania. The industry is seeking for uniformity of requirements by governments around Australia. The Pest Management industry has requested the opportunity to work with the Animal Welfare Bureau and other State Animal Welfare Branches to develop the guidelines under which glue traps may be used. Draft Guidelines for the use of Rodent Glueboards can be downloaded by clicking this link. Wherever you are in Australia please read them and e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to suggest any changes or to show your agreement with them. What happens in one State invariably follows to others and it is important we get this right from the start so that any State restricting use of glueboards will have similar requirements.
The new Regulations are available at the following link: Click here
New Zealand, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmanian Governments have all proposed the banning of glueboards. Others are considering it.
Why? The Animal Welfare groups claim rodents trapped on glueboards die inhumanely.
Glueboards are not our front line of defence against rodents, but can be an invaluable tool in the right circumstances. It is important we are able to continue using them where required.
Garrards alerted the industry last November to the proposed legislation in South Australia, well after the formal closing of submissions. The Tasmanian legislation banning glueboards will be introduced into parliament in March 2008 - a Garrards search found it less than four weeks before its presentation! Both were prepared to receive and consider our submissions.
Garrards are fighting for the continued use of glueboards for monitoring and control of rodents. We believe the industry needs to use glueboards in line with yet-to-be-determined guidelines.
If you wish to add your comments to the debate please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Click here to download a copy of the South Australia Submission
Click here to download a copy of the Tasmania Submission