Overview

• The potential ban on rodenticide use for private individuals in Germany has sparked warnings of increased rat populations and public health risks from industry groups and pest control associations.
• The Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA) cites environmental and animal welfare concerns, including risks to non-target animals and the environment, as reasons for the proposed restrictions.
• Rodenticides are currently under review for reauthorization and can still be used until December 31, 2025, while the final decision remains pending.
• Animal welfare groups, including the German Tierschutzbund, support the ban, advocating for preventive measures such as improved hygiene, structural barriers, and promoting natural predators instead of lethal methods.
• The BAuA recommends using non-lethal alternatives like snap traps for isolated rat issues and emphasizes that professional pest control services will still have access to rodenticides for severe infestations.