Pest control advice for food businesses
This page provides information and guidelines to proprietors advising them about dealing with pest control on their premises.
Food premises must be constructed and designed to prevent, as far as practicable, the risk of infestation by rats, mice and insects or entry of birds.
This is necessary to prevent the transmission of disease and contamination of foods.
In food businesses where windows and doors are opened for extra ventilation, these should be protected with fly screens.
In addition electronic fly killers (EFK) can provide a secondary defence measure.
Yards and outbuildings need to be kept clean and in good repair. Any vegetation needs to be kept under control.
Gullies and manhole covers need to be checked that they are not blocked or broken, and all gaps in the external fabric of buildings should be sealed or protected.
Refuse should be stored in rigid bins for collection as black sacks are vulnerable to scavenging pests.
Bungs must be fitted to any holes in the bottom of wheeled bins (the holes are present to allow cleaning water to drain away).
Accumulations of cardboard, redundant equipment and other such refuse will encourage flies and vermin, and so must be avoided.
Pest control help
All food business proprietors and staff should be vigilant and look regularly for evidence of pests.
However good the business sooner or later an insect or rodent will be a threat.
Consideration should be given to a pest control contract with a reputable pest control company.
This may assist in providing long term control of pests and advice regarding any pest proofing work which may be necessary.
The Council provides a pest control service which is also available to local businesses.
Contact
Email: pest.advice@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
Telephone: 01737 276417.
Write to:
Commercial Team, Pest Control Section
Environmental Health
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH.
Last updated : 14/05/2009
