VP issues resolution on use of insecticides

No company is allowed to practise pests control business without obtaining a licence from the local authority, according to a resolution issued by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The new rule regulates the use of insecticides in fighting public health epidemics.

Resolution No. (27 of 2012) stipulates that the scope of public health pest control companies includes killing harmful flying and crawling insects, vectors like flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, as well as rodents and pests of stored products.

Pest control companies are demanded to only use insecticides registered with the Ministry of Environment and Water and are strictly prohibited to import or use any products unless registering them with the ministry. When using these insecticides, operators should ensure safety in facilities like warehouses, offices and targeted sites.

Article (6) of the resolution bans advertising any insecticides without a licence for import and use.

The resolution also specifies requirements for licensing a pest control technician which include, among others, holding a diploma from accredited university in public health, environmental health, agricultural engineering or biology and training certificate from any agency of the World Health Organisation or specialised government agency.

The resolution spells out safety and health measures for both technicians and warehouses, stressing that warehouses should not be used for any other purposes that set for. Powerful heating and lighting systems are not allowed to avoid breakout of fire.

On transportation, the resolution demands services providers to transport insecticides in special trucks conforming with technical, environmental and health standards.

The resolution also bans the use of smoke insecticides and thermal insecticidal fogging inside apartments and residential buildings.

The resolution assigned the local authority to maintain regular inspection and supervision on services providers to ensure their compliance with provisions of this resolution.

Violators will face an administrative closure of business for a period not more than three months. The local authority may allow the erring company to get back into business before the closure duration ends if it sets its house in order.