Free rodenticide resistance testing from CRRU

23 Sep Free rodenticide resistance testing from CRRU

Posted at 16:00h in Press Centre by

Appeal to Pest Controllers, Farmers and Gamekeepers for Samples

Free DNA testing for rodenticide resistance in rats and mice is available through the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU).

Dr Alan Buckle, former CRRU Chairman, previously emphasised the importance of wider sample collection:

“ Without more testing, pest controllers, farmers and gamekeepers could be using products that are ineffective in places where rodents are resistant. And where resistance genes are still absent,” he added, “others may be using resistance-breaking products unnecessarily. Only more samples can solve this.”

The DNA tests are conducted by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA). This collaboration supports CRRU’s resistance monitoring obligations under the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime.

Guidance on how to collect, store, and send samples to SASA is available HERE.

Richard Moseley, leader of CRRU’s Monitoring Work Group, notes a serious concern:

“ There’s still an alarming lack of data from central England and most of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.”

In the past two years, new resistance hotspots have emerged in Northumberland and County Durham, Tyneside and North Yorkshire, Devon and East Anglia, Greater Manchester, and along the River Severn valley from north-west Shropshire to Somerset. Resistance genes have already become widespread across central southern England.

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