On 1 January 2026, the UK will enforce major new changes to who can legally buy and use professional rodenticides. These changes affect every farmer, estate, and agricultural business that relies on rodent control to protect grain, livestock, feed, machinery, and buildings. The new rules are strict, and with just over one month left until they come into effect, farmers who are not yet compliant must act now.
From the start of 2026, you must hold a recognised qualification to purchase professional rodenticides. Red Tractor and other assurance schemes will no longer give automatic access. Historic training will not count. The new standard requires formal proof of competence. Farmers who have not already accumulated enough CPD points throughout 2025 will only have one route left to stay compliant. They must complete the LANTRA certified training course.
Time is short. Demand is rising. And without the correct qualification, distributors will be legally required to refuse sales of professional products from 1 January. This blog explains what is changing, why these rules exist, and what you need to do immediately to ensure your farm does not lose access to essential rodent control tools this winter.
What Is Changing On 1 January 2026
From 1 January onwards, professional rodenticides will only be sold to users who can provide valid proof of competence. For farmers, this means showing either a recognised training certificate or verified CPD points gained throughout 2025 under the stewardship framework. If you have not been building CPD points across this year, you will not meet the criteria.
The new rules remove the flexibility that farmers have relied on for many years. Distributors will have to check certificates before selling any product classified for professional use. If you cannot present verification at the point of purchase, you will not be able to buy.
These rules apply to all professional rodenticide purchases,, including the most commonly used products on farms. If you currently rely on professional bait for controlling rats and mice in grain stores, livestock housing, feed sheds, and machinery rooms, this change affects you directly. Without the qualification, supply will stop.
Why These Changes Are Happening
The changes aim to tighten stewardship, improve safe practice, and protect both the environment and non-target species. Research over the past decade has shown that misuse or poorly planned rodenticide strategies can allow residues to enter the wider food chain or impact wildlife through secondary exposure.
To address this, the industry has strengthened its approach to training and competency. Rather than using a mix of assurance schemes, varied certificates, or informal training, the new rules introduce a single clear benchmark for competence. Every professional rodenticide user must demonstrate correct knowledge in safe application, baiting strategy, legal responsibilities, storage, and environmental risk control.
Farms that implement rodent control correctly play an essential role in protecting local wildlife, maintaining biosecurity, and preventing unnecessary exposure to chemicals. The new legislation ensures that all professional users are working to the same consistent standard.
What It Means If You Have Not Gained CPD Points In 2025
Throughout 2025, farmers were expected to collect CPD points under the stewardship scheme. These points contribute to their proof of competence. Many training events, webinars, and industry sessions offered CPD, but these had to be collected progressively during the year. If you have not been collecting these points, you cannot make them up in December. There is no fast track route to earning CPD retrospectively.
This is why the LANTRA qualification is now the only practical route for farmers who need immediate compliance. The online LANTRA course provides an accredited, recognised certificate that meets the new standard and gives farmers the ability to purchase professional rodenticides immediately after passing. Without CPD points or a certificate, access will stop on January 1st..
Why This Matters So Much For Farms
Rodent control on farms is not optional. Winter (and weather) pressure is already high, and rats and mice are moving indoors seeking shelter, warmth, and food. With rapid reproduction rates, a rodent problem can escalate within days. A farm that cannot legally purchase professional rodenticides will be forced to rely on alternatives that may not be strong enough to control established infestations.
Rodent damage during winter is costly and disruptive. Contaminated feed, chewed wiring, damaged machinery, grain spoilage, compromised insulation, and biosecurity risks are all common consequences of delayed or ineffective control. Losing access to professional baits even for a short period can lead to long term structural and financial losses.
The new rules also carry compliance implications. If a farmer uses professional rodenticides without the correct certificate after 1 January, they will breach stewardship requirements. This can affect audits, inspections, and the ongoing ability to remain compliant across other areas of farm management.
The Only Immediate Route Now: The LANTRA Qualification
With CPD points no longer an option for anyone who has not already built them during 2025, the only route to compliance before January is to complete the LANTRA training course. The LANTRA award provides a recognised certificate that meets stewardship requirements and grants immediate access to professional rodenticides once completed.
The course is designed specifically for practical users such as farmers, gamekeepers, and agricultural professionals. It covers essential topics including safe bait placement, environmental considerations, legislation, storage, disposal, baiting strategies, and how to create a farm rodent control plan that satisfies regulators and auditors.
The course can be completed fully online, making it accessible even during the busy winter period. Once passed the proctored exam, you will receive a certificate that you can show distributors in January to maintain uninterrupted access to professional products.
Why You Cannot Afford To Wait
December is historically the busiest month for stewardship training. Course spaces fill quickly, and online assessments are often oversubscribed as farmers realise the deadline is approaching. If you delay until the final weeks before the rule change, you risk missing out entirely and being unable to buy professional rodenticides for several weeks or even months.
The holiday period also reduces the number of available working days, making the timeline even tighter. Every year, many farmers underestimate how long things take to process during December. Leaving training until the last minute may leave you exposed to pests and unable to protect your livestock, grain, buildings, or machinery from rodent damage.
Rodent pressure is already high across the UK and is expected to rise throughout December and January as temperatures drop and natural food sources decline. The earlier you complete your LANTRA training, the sooner you secure your farm’s access to the tools you need.
Final Message To Farmers
The legislation is changing on 1 January 2026. Farmers who do not hold a recognised qualification or who have not collected CPD points throughout 2025 will lose access to professional rodenticides. There is no grace period and no alternative route. The LANTRA course is the only remaining solution to avoid gaps in your rodent control capability.
You still have time, but not much. Completing the LANTRA training now ensures your farm remains compliant, protected, and ready for the winter peak in rodent activity. Secure your certificate, secure your access, and secure your farm.
Get trained. Get Certified. Get Rodent Ready.
