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Rats and Mice

Rats and Mice

rats

 

Rats and Mice

Rats and mice and other rodents are some of the most common pests in Ireland. A rodent infestation in the home or workplace can potentially have very serious consequences, posing a significant threat to human health and well being. If you suspect you have a problem with rodents, don’t ignore it – contact the experts at Central Pest Control today.

Protect Your Home

A rodent infestation in the home poses a wide range of risks. Rats and mice have been known to cause fires by gnawing away the insulation around electrical cables. They have also caused severe flooding by puncturing water pipes with their razor-sharp teeth. Rats, in particular, pose a substantial health risk to humans, carrying potentially fatal diseases such as E. coli, salmonella, Weil’s Disease and tuberculosis (TB). Rats also carry ticks, fleas and mites which can cause severe allergic reactions in humans.

If you have a rodent problem in the home, it is strongly recommended that you employ the services of a pest-control professional, since many common over-the-counter solutions – such as rat poison – can end up infecting food and food-preparation surfaces if deployed incorrectly. It is also very important to ensure that all rodents have been eradicated and that preventative measures have been put in place to avoid another infestation occuring.

Protect Your Business

In any business, the risks of a rodent infestation are precisely the same as those described above. However, in businesses involved in the preparation or processing of products designed for human consumption – such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, etc – the risks are significantly greater. In these cases, a rodent infestation of any description can lead to enforcement orders, closure orders (both temporary and permanent), fines and/or criminal prosecutions. Not only are such actions likely to make the news headlines, they can also ruin your commercial reputation, possibly forever.

Food Safety

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is the statutory body charged with taking “all reasonable steps to ensure that food produced, distributed or marketed in the State meets the highest standards of food safety and hygiene reasonably available.”

The FSAI has the power to issue enforcement and closure orders on any food-related business in the event of a breach of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act (1998). In 2010, the Authority registered a 35% increase in Food Safety Enforcement Orders compared to 2009, many of them for issues related to insufficient or non-existent pest-control procedures. The FSAI also has the power to fine and/or prosecute in a court of law any business in breach of the regulations.

If you run any kind of business involved in the preparation of food products – such as a hotel, restaurant, cafe, takeaway, licensed premises or convenience store – it is strongly advised to familiarise yourself with the relevant legislation. For more, visit www.fsai.ie.

If you suspect that you may have a pest problem in your business or workplace, we invite you to contact us immediately for a FREE assessment of your pest-control practices and procedures.

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