New rodenticide regulations — what farmers need to know
22nd September 2025
From 1st January 2026, the rules for purchasing and using professional rodenticides on farms are changing. In just a few months, holding membership of a CRRU-approved farm assurance scheme will no longer be sufficient to access the products needed to control rodent infestations. It is time for farmers to get ready.
Farmers are custodians of the countryside and at the forefront of conservation.
The new regulations are designed to support them with long-term sustainability by ensuring only trained handlers use rodenticide products, reducing risk to non-target wildlife and cutting down on residues in the environment.
Farmers who want to keep buying and using professional rodenticides from 2026 will need to check their existing certificates and, if necessary, gain updated qualifications to stay compliant.
The required certification must be in place by 1st January 2026.
The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) is leading the rollout of the changes and offering guidance to help prepare for the new rodenticide rules for farms.
Available options
Farmers who wish to stay compliant to buy and use rodenticides in 2026 have two options:
Option 1: If farmers hold recent training (within 5 years)
Farmers with proof of certification from a CRRU UK-approved training course, completed within the past five years, will still be able to buy and use professional rodenticides in 2026.
Those with certificates nearing their expiry date, will need to repeat the training and requalify, or join a CRRU UK approved CPD scheme.
Option 2: If training was carried out more than 5 years ago
Farmers with CRRU UK-approved training that’s more than 5 years old, must show proof of this original training and have current membership of a CRRU UK-approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme or repeat the training and requalify.
Joining a CPD scheme ensures farmers stay up to date with best practice and remain eligible to purchase and use rodenticides legally. Those joining a CPD scheme for the first time will need to complete the scheme’s requirements this year to meet the requirements in time for 2026.
The CRRU website contains details of the training and certification most suitable for farmers and a full list of CRRU-approved courses for meeting the rodenticide regulations coming next year.
Certification from these courses will be acceptable at the point of sale when purchasing professional rodenticides from 1 January 2026 under the terms of the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime.
There are other options available to farmers: employ a professional pest controller who holds the necessary certification or rely on amateur-use products which are only sold in smaller packs at lower strengths.
Why are new regulations needed?
Restrictions on the use of chemicals and the corresponding reduction in active ingredients available for use are landscapes that have become familiar in agriculture and the pest control sector alike.
CRRU has been managing this transition in rodenticides, through the rodenticide stewardship framework, since 2016. CRRU chairman, Nigel Cheeseright, explains why this action is so crucial to the farming sector.
“Responsible use of the professional-grade rodenticides that are still available is absolutely key to the future of rodent control. Our aim is to equip all relevant industry sectors with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and manage rodent problems effectively—using these products when necessary, while always minimising potential impact on the environment and non-target species.
“Professional-grade rodenticides are essential for helping farmers meet the challenges of controlling rodents on their farms, but how they use them is crucial for the day-to-day stewardship needed to reduce residues, protect wildlife and the countryside.
“If we are to minimise environmental impact and keep some of the most effective rodenticides in our toolkit for use in the coming years, we must find a sustainable balance. The best-practice guidance that underpins the new regulations coming in 2026 is a milestone in this effort and will help ensure a viable future for effective rodent control on farms.”
The CRRU website is the central hub for information about the new rodenticide regulations.
Follow the company social media pages too and stay up to date with the latest developments in the run up to 2026.
Read more arable news.
