The Environmental Protection Agency intends to impose strict restrictions on the use of rodenticides following litigation by environmental groups citing the Endangered Species Act. The Environmental Protection Agency issued a biological evaluation in November with comments due during January 2024.

The UEP has requested a 60-day extension to submit comments based on the “complexity of the mitigation measures required under those restrictions”.

The UEP justifiably claims that the EPA proposals are far reaching and are not based on actual methods of application.  The restrictions proposed would seriously impair the ability to suppress rodent populations in chicken houses leading to unintended potential consequences including disease in flocks and possible salmonellosis among consumers.

The proposed EPA restrictions that would be imposed under the Endangered Species Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act have merit.  Indiscriminate bating results in toxicity among endangered species ranging form California condors to cougars.  In the context of egg production, mice that die as a result of consuming anticoagulant rodenticides decompose within houses and are not consumed by carnivorous scavengers.  Special provisions should be made for application of approved rodenticides to be applied by certified farm personnel for use within chicken houses.

EPA in framing rules should ensure that they are in harmony with the FDA Final Rule on Salmonella that mandates monitoring and suppression of rodents in and around poultry houses.