On the 31st of July 2024, it became illegal to catch rodents using glue boards, unless
you hold the relevant license.
This change in the law states that glue board or glue trap usage is prohibited outdoors, and is only permitted in certain indoor locations if exceptional conditions are met, such as:
There are two types of glue trap licenses a pest controller can apply for:
Legal authorization that confirms the holder has the authority to use glue traps when needed urgently and specific conditions are met that necessitate it.
A single-use licence issued for a particular job, that is applied for when needed. This license enables glue trap usage for a specific problem at a specified site, within a given timeframe.
Class licenses can be applied for at any time, and enable the specified holder to use glue traps; these licenses expire on the 31st December of the same year the license was issued.
You can view the licenses page on the government website by clicking here, or you can download the Class License application form by clicking here.
Where can you lay glue traps as a Class License holder?
Class licenses only permit glue trap use in specified indoor areas or in specific and time-critical circumstances:
Class license holders will be sent reporting forms by Natural England when their application is successful. You must fill in and return:
Individual licenses are applied for when a pest controller deems that glue boards are needed for a job. When issued, the license only permits glue traps to be used at one specific site and within a given timeframe.
Individual licenses should only be applied for in situations that pose a large-scale risk to public health and safety. Some examples of situations that would necessitate the use of glue traps include infestations in
Restaurants, hotels, pubs, takeaways and domestic properties are unlikely to be considered.
To obtain an individual license, you will need to send a plan of the site showing:
You will also need to include with the form:
You can view the licenses page on the government website by clicking here, or you can download the Individual License application form by clicking here.
When a job is complete, you must fill in and return the ‘Actions taken under A15 licence report’ within 14 days of the licence end date to describe what you did.
Click here to download the document.
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