What they are
Insect monitoring traps are used to assess whether pest control measures are needed or affective. For example, by:
- showing early warning signs of pests in a specific location
- indicating the size of pest populations
They’re intended only for monitoring purposes, such as counting insects, not for reducing the overall size of the pest population.
Monitoring traps may contain an attractant such as a pheromone, or other biocidal active substance.
Monitoring for pests can help identify when action needs to be taken to protect:
- foodstuffs
- raw materials
- commodities
- buildings or infrastructure
They can also help individuals, businesses, organisations, and society to:
- maintain high standards of hygiene
- prevent damage or destruction
- minimise the use of biocidal products
How they’re used
Monitoring traps may be used as a tool in an integrated pest management plan by professionals or individuals, to monitor and find out if there is a problem. They can indicate whether pests are present and the potential size of an infestation.
They can also help capture insects for identification, meaning any later treatment can be targeted to a specific species. This approach enables:
- informed decisions to be made over control or eradication of problem numbers of pests
- control treatments to be carried out only when risk from the insect or pest is established
Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR)
Monitoring traps which are clearly labelled, sold and used as such, are not considered to be within scope of the GB or EU Biocidal Products Regulation 528/2012 (BPR). They do not require authorisation to be placed on the UK market.
A trap may appear to work through physical action alone if it contains no pheromones, other attractants or other active substances and:
- only uses colour to attract insects
- catches insects by chance on a sticky surface
If this is the case, it may not meet the definition of a biocidal product within the scope of BPR. However, it’s the responsibility of the company making the trap available to justify why their product should not be covered by the regulations. For example, if challenged by enforcement authorities.
Traps intended solely for monitoring purposes should be clearly labelled and marketed as such. They should not make any claims or inferences that it could be used as a biocidal product such as:
- claims to reduce, control or kill the target organism
- images such as dead insects
To avoid confusion, the product name should clearly indicate the trap is for monitoring purposes, for example, “Insect Monitoring Trap”, “Fruit Fly Monitoring Trap”, or similar.
The product label should not indicate that it has a biocidal action against the organism of interest or use words such as:
- reduces
- eliminates
- kills
- controls
Labels or accompanying leaflets may explain treatments or actions which can be taken when the monitoring trap indicates a pest problem.
A trap may be considered as being marketed primarily for biocidal purposes and falling under GB or EU BPR if the trap is intended for purposes beyond purely monitoring, such as:
- reducing the insect population
- controlling pests
- mass trapping
Scope of product claims
Traps intended for monitoring purposes, must not make explicit biocidal claims and must clearly indicate that the product is solely for monitoring purposes.
Explicit biocidal claims and intentions should only be present for biocidal products within scope of BPR. Therefore, products making explicit biocidal claims must adhere to the requirements of BPR.
Examples of claims that would not be acceptable for a monitoring trap are:
- kills insects, eggs or larvae
- protects clothes
- controls moth infestations
- interferes with lifecycle to control moths/insects
- prevents infestations
- prevents damage to clothes
- repels insects/moths
The list above is not exhaustive and may include other similar indications.
Additionally, some claims need to be considered by looking at the overall presentation of the product. This is to determine whether the product gives the impression of being biocidal, rather than solely for monitoring purposes.
Context dependant claims
These claims may be suitable for monitoring traps outside the scope of BPR, but would need to be considered in context. We would take the claims as a whole into account including the packaging, claims and imagery, and if used would need to be clearly in relation to the product being used solely for monitoring purposes.
Examples of context dependant claims are:
- catches moths
- lures moths
- attracts insects
- indicate that trap includes pheromone to attract
- pictograms, photos or illustrations indicating dead or trapped insects
- indicates specific species of insect or moth including images of target species
The list above is not exhaustive and may include other similar indications.