Rodenticide restrictions made permanent in B.C. starting today

It's official,

After an 18-month temporary restriction period, the provincial government has finally rolled out permanent changes to rodenticide regulations.

The new rules will:

• ban the sale and use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) in residential and non-essential commercial settings
  
• increase oversight of rodenticide use
• require essential services to use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for rodent control
• increase training and education on rodenticides for essential services
  

This policy change is a big step forward for animal welfare - protecting wildlife from exposure to the most dangerous rodenticides, while promoting more effective and humane methods of pest control. BC SPCA experts from our Science & Policy team were consulted during the government's scientific review, and directly involved in making this change.

Unfortunately, there are still a few gaps in these regulations.

First-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) like warfarin, chlorophacinone, and diphacinone are still legal for use. These products are an older, slower-acting, and less potent product compared to SGARs – but rodents still suffer the same effects. Rodents can also develop resistance to these products. Certain non-anticoagulant rodenticides such as bromethalin, which are generally neurotoxins, also remain legal for use. 

Given these exceptions, there is still a need to focus on prevention using humane approaches to rodent management, and you can help:

• Learn more about humane rodent control, and how to rodent-proof your home
• Share our resources for municipal policy changes with your local council
  
• Hire an AnimalKind company, or ask your pest control company to follow AnimalKind standards
  

It is with thanks to people like you that these recent changes were possible. It is clear now that rodenticides can no longer be the default option, and we hope you'll join us in continuing to push for improvements in your community.

Read more about the new regulations and how you can help.

Thank you for your continued support, protecting animals from unnecessary suffering. Support more meaningful change like this with your kind donation.

With gratitude,

Dr. Sara Dubois
BC SPCA Chief Scientific Officer