Fresh Produce Standards

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Vermin Control Version 5.1

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PR.VC.1 PR.VC.1.1 PR.VC.2 PR.VC.2.1 PR.VC.3 PR.VC.4 PR.VC.5

Glossary

Key – Those standards which have greater significance (all other standards are normal)

Recommendation – Those which do not affect certification

New – A completely new standard which the member must now adhere to

Revised – A standard that has changed and requires the member to take some different or additional action to before

Upgraded – The standard has been upgraded to a Key standard or from a Recommendation to a full standard

Appendix – Referenced in ‘How you will be measured’. Indicates that additional information is provided in the Appendices, which are available at the end of each section.

Cropping Categories Fresh Produce

Category 0 - Those you can eat raw and have a significant risk or history of pathogen contamination

Category 1 - Those you can eat raw and which do not have a protective skin that is removed before eating; they may also have a significant risk or history of pathogen contamination.

Category 2 - Those you can eat raw and which either have protective skin or grow clear of the ground, or that have no history of pathogen contamination.

Category 3 - Those that the customer always cooks.

An up-to-date list of the crop categories can be found on the Red Tractor website.

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AIM: Effective and responsible control of birds, rodents, insects and other animals to prevent contamination and food safety risk

PR.VC.1 Key

There must be effective control of vermin

How you will be measured

PR.VC.1.a

No build-up of vegetation close to farm structures that could harbour vermin

PR.VC.1.b

A site survey is completed at least quarterly, detailing: - date of inspection - locations inspected - findings - actions required - date actions completed

PR.VC.1.c

Dead/trapped vermin are searched for and disposed of when bait points are checked

Site surveys

PR.VC.1.1

Systems are managed in-house by a competent person or by an external contractor

How you will be measured

PR.VC.1.1.a

Where an external pest contractor is used, a documented agreement is in place

PR.VC.1.1.b

Where pest control is managed in-house, the person with overall responsibility for this task has received some certified training in pest control/management

External contractor agreement
Training in pest control/management

PR.VC.2

Toxic bait must be used responsibly

How you will be measured

PR.VC.2.a

Prior to treatment with baits the use of non-chemical control methods is considered first followed by the least toxic alternatives (see Appendix - risk hierarchy)

PR.VC.2.b

An Environmental Risk Assessment is undertaken in accordance with the Appendix before bait is laid

PR.VC.2.d

Non-target animals do not have access to baits

PR.VC.2.e

Baiting stations kept away from product

PR.VC.2.f

Permanent baiting is not routinely undertaken and toxic bait is removed when treatment is finished

PR.VC.2.g

Product label directions are followed

PR.VC.2.h

Granular bait is not used in areas where product is stored or packed

Environmental Risk Assessment

PR.VC.2.1

All pest monitoring points are recorded on a site plan and regular checks are completed

How you will be measured

PR.VC.2.1.a

All pest monitoring points, including non-toxic monitoring points, any toxic baits and EFK (Electronic Fly Killing) units are accurately recorded on a site plan

Plan/map of pest monitoring points
Pest monitoring point check records

PR.VC.3

Buildings used for packing and storing product must be maintained, proofed and managed in a manner that prevents the ingress of pests and vermin

How you will be measured

PR.VC.3.a

No evidence of poor proofing or damage to buildings which may permit pest/vermin access

PR.VC.3.b

Where products are stored in a walled area, gaps are left between the product and the wall (with the exception of loose, bulk storage areas)

PR.VC.4

Domestic animals must not be allowed in any operational areas, including packing and storage areas

How you will be measured

PR.VC.4.a

No evidence of domestic animals in operational areas

PR.VC.4.b

Category 1 and 0 only. Where footpaths run through, or in close proximity to production areas, warning notices are used to minimise the risk of members of the public and domestic animals entering cropped areas

PR.VC.5

Precautionary measures are taken where appropriate to discourage pest and vermin activity in crops and cropping areas

How you will be measured

PR.VC.5.a

Where areas of potential wild animal activity have been identified in the Risk Assessment, appropriate mitigation strategies have been implemented. These include but are not limited to: - bird scaring devices - rabbit fencing - crop covers - physical barriers - management of local pest and vermin populations

Where to find help

The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) Code is published on:
www.thinkwildlife.org/code-of-best-practice/crru-code

More Standards

Beef & Lamb

Chicken

Crops & Sugar Beet

Dairy

Dairy Goats

Ducks

Pigs

Turkeys

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Useful Documents

UK Crops grown and risk categories

Fresh Produce assessment structure

Templates, Examples & Guides

Environmental Risk Assessment Form

Site Survey

Bait Plan

Guidance

VC.1 – Note that where an equivalent survey is completed to the required frequency by a pest contractor, the business does not need to complete an additional in-house survey
VC.2 – Permanent baiting is the application of a rodenticide product when no active infestation is present. Permanent baiting is strictly limited to sites with a high potential for reinvasion when other methods of control have proven insufficient and can only be carried out by professional users and only with products authorised for this use.

Appendix

VC.2 Vermin Control