Natural England

Natural England has issued a warning to farmers and contractors about the dangers of the incorrect use of pesticides following a recent prosecution in Rutland.

A dog being walked by his owner fell ill and died after eating slug pellets which had been spilt on a country lane by a contractor working on behalf of a local farmer in nearby fields.

Fines of £5,625, plus legal costs and £1,600 compensation were awarded against a Melton Mowbray company and its Director at Melton Mowbray Magistrates Court in July, after the defendant pleaded guilty to charges under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (amended 1997), and The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.

The incident was investigated jointly by Leicestershire Police Wildlife Crime Officer Neil Hughes and Paul Cantwell from Natural England.

Paul Cantwell, Wildlife Management Adviser with Natural England said: "This case underlines the importance for everyone who uses pesticides to read the label very carefully and follow all instructions given. In this particular case, the product's label specifically required that all spillages be cleared up and the defendant failed to do this. Even small amounts of spilt slug pellets pose a substantial risk of death or serious injury to dogs and wildlife such as foxes, badgers and birds that may eat them."

"I would like to offer a timely reminder to farmers and farming contractors to make sure that their staff are properly trained to use pesticides and the need for proper record keeping. They must also abide by the approval conditions for use of the products as well as taking all reasonable precautions to protect the health of human beings, creatures and plants, safeguard the environment and in particular, avoid the pollution of water.

“In addition, professional users of pesticides should make sure they read and follow the Defra Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products when carrying out their work. This case goes to illustrate that the Police and Natural England will investigate and bring to the Courts cases where this does not occur and wildlife, companion animals or the wider environment is adversely affected.”

Speaking after the case, Neil Hughes said:

"As Police Wildlife Crime Officers, we work very closely with Paul and his colleagues in Natural England's Wildlife Management and Licensing Service and the successful result in this case goes to illustrate the success of partnership working when dealing with environmental and wildlife crime".

Notes to editors

1. The Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) investigates cases of suspected poisoning of wildlife by pesticides in the UK. In England this work is undertaken by Wildlife Management Advisers of Natural England's Wildlife Management & Licensing Service, on behalf of the Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD) who are responsible for policy with regard to pesticides. The public can help tackle illegal poisoning by reporting suspicious animal carcasses to the freephone hotline on 0800 321600. They should provide information on the location of the incident, number of suspected baits/casualties, why they believe pesticides are involved, and contact details. Outside normal office hours an answer phone service operates. The Campaign Against illegal Poisoning of Wildlife is aimed at deterring the illegal and careless use of pesticides, and offers advice on legal pest control. Enquiries into incidents often involve the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA) who undertake post mortem examinations on casualty animals and the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) Wildlife Incident Unit who carry out pesticide analysis on samples obtained during investigations.

2. The Scheme provides a unique means of post-registration surveillance of pesticide use, so that product approvals can be revised if necessary. In addition, it provides a measure of the success of the pesticide registration process, and helps in the verification and improvement of the risk assessments made in this process. Evidence from the Scheme may also be used to enforce legislation on the use of pesticides and the protection of humans, food, the environment and animals. More information on the scheme (including previous years' annual reports) can be found on the Pesticides Safety Directorate website.

3. The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (as amended), made under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, make it an offence, amongst other things, to fail to follow the approval conditions for use of a pesticide product and to fail to take all reasonable precautions (when using pesticides) to protect the health of human beings, creatures and plants, safeguard the environment and in particular, avoid the pollution of water.

4. The Pesticides Safety Directorate is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). PSD regulates agricultural, horticultural, forestry, food storage and home garden pesticides. Its main functions are to evaluate and process applications for approval of pesticide products for use in Great Britain and provide advice to Government on pesticides policy.

5. More information on the Defra Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products can be found on the PSD website

6. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings. We increase opportunities to make the natural environment an enriching part of people's everyday lives, and improve its long term security by contributing to the sustainable management of our natural resources.

Issued on behalf of Natural England by Government News Network East Midlands. For more information contact Alice Oliver on 0115 971 2784