Chapter 3, Subject 4
QMP Reference Standard and Compliance Guidelines
Appendix C
Guidelines for the Development of a Pest Control Program

Sanitizing cannot be effective without a good pest control program. Pest Control is the reduction or eradication of pests (macro organisms). These include flies, cockroaches, mice and rats, as well as weevils and other animals and insects that can target food products. Pest control cannot be effectively accomplished unless and until proper cleaning and establishment maintenance has occurred. If no pests are present, cleaning followed by sanitizing is sufficient. If, however, pests are present, they must be controlled before the sanitizing step. This is because the pests will re-contaminate any surface that may have been sanitized.

Establishment management is responsible for identifying a competent person to develop a pest prevention and control program and to give them the necessary support to carry out the program and ensure that pesticides are used in accordance with label instructions. Persons who apply pesticides in industrial and institutional settings have a responsibility to use the needed pesticide, to apply it correctly (according to label instructions), and to be certain there is no hazard to man or the environment.

An effective written pest control program includes the following:

1. Controls to prevent the entrance of pests to the facility, including:

• measures to prevent the entry of pests and animals, through proper construction and layout of facilities
• measures to control the opening and closure of doors and windows
• measures to exclude animals such as dogs, cats and birds.

2. Controls to eliminate or prevent the harbourage of pests in and around the facility, including:

• measures to maintain an outside establishment environment that does not provide a habitat for pests (i.e., establishment surroundings must be free of debris, stagnant water or improperly disposed of offal),
• where applicable, a list of chemicals and devices used for pest control, the concentration applied, the locations where applied, and the method and frequency of application,
• where applicable, a plan of bait and trap locations,
• where applicable, a system to record the date of chemical or device applications, chemicals or devices used, results of the application, corrective actions taken, and
• the name of the responsible person.

3. Identification of properly maintained pest control equipment and its intended use.

4. The identification of acceptable chemicals and/or compounds, their intended use, and procedures for proper application.

5. Procedures to ensure that the pest control program is carried out in a manner that does not contaminate food or packaging materials during, or subsequent to, pest control applications.

6. The name or position of persons responsible for pest control, including, where applicable, the name of the pest control company or the name of the person contracted for the pest control program.

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