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Code of Practice: Processing of Bee Products

7 Pest Control

Amendment 2

June 2006

7.1 Purpose and scope

To ensure the effective control of pests so as to prevent or minimise the contamination of edible bee products, packaging, other inputs, equipment, and the processing environment. Pests include rodents, birds, insects (including bees), dogs and cats.

7.2 Sources of hazards

7.3 Mandatory requirements

7.3.1 AP Reg 11 (2) (3)

Effective procedures must be established and carried out to minimise the exposure of edible bee product, packaging, other inputs, equipment, and the processing environment to hazards associated with pests.

7.3.2 AP Reg 10

Premises, facilities, equipment and essential services must be designed, constructed, located and operated to minimise the exposure of edible bee product to hazards and other risk factors from pests.

7.3.3 AP Reg 11(3)

Chemicals must be stored, handled, and used in a manner that minimises contamination of edible bee product, other inputs, packaging, equipment, and the processing environment.

7.4 Procedures

7.4.1 Prevention of infestation and access of pests

7.4.1.1 Buildings and storage facilities (including water storage tanks) must be kept in good repair and condition to prevent pest access and to eliminate potential breeding sites.

7.4.1.2 Holes, drains and other places where pests are likely to gain access must be kept sealed, or provided with screens or similar materials that prevent the entry of pests.

7.4.1.3 External doors that are not screened must be kept closed at all times when not in use.

7.4.1.4 Internal and external areas of the premises must be kept clean and tidy. The external environment must be checked regularly and kept free of any food source and breeding sites (e.g. long grass, bird’s nest).

7.4.1.5 Dogs, cats and other mammalian pests must not be permitted to enter processing, packaging and storage areas.

7.4.1.6 Waste materials must be kept in covered pest-proof containers, and regularly collected and disposed of.

7.4.2 Use of pesticides

7.4.2.1 Pest control chemicals (rodenticides and insecticides) must be handled, used and stored according to the control procedures given in Section 6: Control of Chemicals.

7.4.2.2 Insecticides that have any residual activity or are dispensed as continuous aerosols must not be used in any processing or storage area in a manner that could cause the contamination of edible bee product or product contact surfaces.

7.4.2.3 Edible bee products and exposed packaging must be removed from the area or kept protected (e.g. covered) prior to the use of chemicals which may result to their contamination. Equipment and other product contact surfaces must be cleaned by thorough washing after exposure to any chemical (i.e. after spraying with insecticide is completed).

7.4.3 Use of pest traps

7.4.3.1 Pest traps (including rodent boxes, bait stations and electric insect traps) must be located where they do not present a risk of contamination to the product.

7.4.3.2 Bait stations must not be located inside any processing area.

7.4.3.3 Rodenticides must be used only in enclosed bait boxes.

7.4.3.4 Bait stations must be checked regularly for the following:

• correct location as indicated in the plan or record, and presence of bait. The box should be cleaned and rebaited with an approved rodent bait, as necessary;

• evidence of pest activity (e.g. nibbled bait, bait missing, droppings); and

• boxes are in good working condition and numbering is easily legible.

7.4.3.5 Insect traps, which include ultra-violet lamps, pheromone traps and any form of attractant device, must:

• be constructed so they catch and secure insects in a suitable drawer, tray or adhesive mat which facilitates the capture and removal of insects;

• not cause any air-borne contamination; and

• be sited so there is no contamination from insects falling on to edible bee product, packaging, or product contact surfaces.

7.4.4 Handling and disposition of contaminated materials

Where there is evidence of contamination from pests (excluding bees), the following actions must be carried out:

• the affected product must be considered unfit for human consumption;

• the affected product contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitised prior to reuse; and

• affected packaging materials that cannot be effectively cleaned and sanitised must not be used for packing of any edible bee product.

7.4.5 Monitoring

Ongoing compliance to documented procedures, and the effectiveness of the pest control programme must be regularly checked by the responsible person.

7.5 Records

Records containing the following information must be kept by the operator:

• observations from monitoring, including any evidence of pests

• location of bait stations

• list of approved chemicals used

• name, amount and point of use of any pesticides used; and

• any corrective action taken (including restoration of control, product disposition and prevention of recurrence).