Rodent control has always been a key part of protecting British farms. Whether it is safeguarding livestock feed, protecting grain stores or reducing disease risks across poultry and livestock units, effective rodent management plays a major role in maintaining farm hygiene, productivity and biosecurity.
However, from 1 January 2026, significant changes to rodenticide legislation have officially come into force across the UK. Farmers and professional users can no longer simply purchase and use professional-use rodenticides without proof of competence.
Under the new Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) requirements, anyone wanting to purchase professional rodenticides must now hold an approved training certificate.
While the changes may sound daunting at first, the reality is far more straightforward, and more importantly, designed to support safer and more effective rodent control practices across UK agriculture.
Why the Legislation Has Changed
The updated legislation has been introduced to improve responsible rodenticide use, reduce environmental risks and ensure users understand how to correctly apply professional products.
Rodenticides remain an essential tool for controlling rats and mice on farms, but incorrect and irresponsible use can increase risks to wildlife, non-target species and the wider environment. The new requirements aim to ensure users have a better understanding of:
- Safe bait placement
- Rodent behaviour
- Integrated pest management
- Correct product selection
- Resistance management
- Environmental protection
The changes are particularly important as regulations around second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) continue to evolve.
Rather than simply teaching users how to place bait, the training focuses on understanding why infestations happen and how to control them more effectively long term.
Why Farmers Should Act Now
One of the biggest concerns across the industry is that many farmers still have not completed the required training, despite the legislation already being in place.
According to Tony Knight, Sales and Key Accounts Director at Lodi UK, there is still confusion surrounding what the legislation means in practice, with some farmers only realising they need certification when attempting to purchase products.
The timing matters too.
Spring and summer often bring a temporary dip in visible rodent activity as warmer conditions and increased feed availability outdoors encourage rodents away from farm buildings. However, this seasonal lull can be misleading.
Rodent populations continue breeding during warmer months, often resulting in increased pressure later in autumn and winter when rats and mice return indoors searching for shelter, warmth and food supplies.
This means farmers who delay training could find themselves unprepared when rodent activity spikes again later in the year.
The Risks Rodents Bring to Farms
Rodents are far more than just a nuisance around farm buildings. On livestock and poultry farms, rats and mice can spread harmful diseases including:
- Salmonella
- E. coli
- Avian influenza
These diseases can spread through contaminated feed, droppings, urine or direct contact with livestock. Rodents can also:
- Damage buildings and insulation
- Gnaw electrical wiring
- Contaminate stored grain
- Create fire risks
- Stress poultry flocks
- Impact livestock performance
In poultry environments particularly, rodent pressure can create significant stress within sheds, and units, potentially affecting bird welfare and productivity. This is why effective rodent management remains a non-negotiable part of modern farm biosecurity.
Integrated Pest Management Is More Important Than Ever
The new legislation is also pushing farms towards a more integrated approach to rodent control.
Professional rodenticides are still an important part of managing infestations, but they should now sit alongside broader preventative measures such as:
- Improving farm hygiene
- Proofing gaps and holes
- Managing feed spillages
- Removing water sources
- Monitoring rodent activity
- Maintaining tidy storage areas
At Lodi UK, this integrated pest approach has always been encouraged. Rodent control is most effective when prevention, proofing and monitoring work together alongside targeted baiting programmes.
The concern this year is that farmers who postpone the required training may find themselves unable to purchase professional products when they urgently need them.
Do Farmers Need to Hire a Pest Controller Instead?
Not necessarily. While some farms choose to outsource rodent management to professional pest controllers, many farms are still perfectly capable of handling pest control themselves.
In fact, farmers often have a major advantage because they know their buildings, feed stores and livestock units better than anyone else. This can help them identify early signs of infestations and act quickly before problems escalate.
The new legislation is not designed to stop farmers managing rodents independently. Instead, it is designed to ensure users understand how to use professional rodenticides safely and responsibly.
What Does the Training Involve?
The good news is that the process is far simpler than many people expect.
CRRU-approved training courses are available online and can be completed remotely and at your convenience, meaning there is no need to leave the farm.
One of the most widely recognised options is the Lantra Level 2 Award in Rodent Management, developed specifically in response to the legislation changes.
The course:
- Costs around £96 plus VAT
- Takes approximately 4–6 hours
- Can be completed in stages
- Includes an online proctored exam
- Provides certification valid for five years
For busy farmers, the flexibility is particularly important. The training can be completed around daily farm tasks rather than requiring a full day away from work.
Once completed, certificates are typically issued within seven days and allow professional rodenticide purchases for the following five years before renewal is required.
Common Questions Around the New Rules
One area still causing confusion is proof of competence.
Many farmers previously relied on farm assurance schemes as evidence when purchasing rodenticides. However, this is no longer accepted under the new rules.
To purchase professional-use rodenticides now, users must hold:
- A CRRU UK-approved training certificate
- Certification dated within the last five years
If previous rodenticide training is more than five years old, users must either:
- Retake approved training
- Join an approved CPD scheme
Importantly, proof of competence will now be checked at the point of sale when purchasing professional rodenticides.
Preparing Farms for the Future
Rodent pressures are unlikely to disappear any time soon. In fact, changing weather patterns, milder winters and evolving farming systems will most certainly continue to create ideal conditions for rats and mice to thrive.
That makes proactive pest management more important than ever.
The 2026 rodenticide legislation changes are not about making rodent control harder for farmers. They are about improving understanding, encouraging responsible use and ensuring professional products remain available for the future.
For farms that rely on professional rodenticides as part of their biosecurity strategy, completing the required training now could save major stress later in the year.
With flexible online learning, relatively low costs and certification lasting five years, the process is far more manageable than many initially feared.
Most importantly, it helps ensure farmers can continue protecting livestock, grain, buildings and businesses from the costly impacts of rodent infestations while using products safely and responsibly.
