May 24, 2011 (Topeka, KS) – New standards being implemented June 4, 2011 by the Environmental Protection Agency will affect the way consumers purchase and use over-the-counter rodent control baits to protect their homes from mice and rats. 

The EPA is requiring all consumer rodenticide bait products to be sold only with bait stations. Loose bait such as pellets will be prohibited, and there will be new restrictions on the active ingredients in the bait.  The new standards also affect rodenticides used by professional applicators and for agricultural purposes.

The EPA established these new standards with the goal of reducing the exposure of children and wildlife to rodenticides, while at the same time still allowing residential users, livestock producers, and professional applicators access to a variety of effective and affordable rodent control products. A range of different types of bait stations will meet the new requirements, providing flexibility in cost. 

“Rodenticides are an important part of rodent control, especially when combined with other components of Integrated Pest Management such as exclusion and sanitation,” says Brent Boles, president of Schendel Pest Services.  “These changes will allow us to keep this valuable tool, but also keep children, pets and wildlife safe from unintended exposure.”

More information about the changes, formally known as Final Risk Mitigation Decision for Ten Rodenticides, can be found on the EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/reregistration/rodenticides/finalriskdecision.htm

About Schendel Pest Services:  Schendel Pest provides complete pest management services to commercial, industrial, and residential clients in five states – Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.  Schendel Pest Services is a partner with Copesan, which enables the company to sell and service commercial accounts on a national basis.  Schendel Pest was founded in 1947 in Topeka, KS, where corporate headquarters remain located today.

Contact:  Julie Johnson, Schendel Pest Services, 1-785-233-3332, Ext. 114 Julie@pestzero.com   www.schendelpest.com