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Tracker: COVID-19 and pest management recognition

Last update: 15/04/2020

Authority

Recognition of Pest Management as an essential profession

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European Commission x

In its Communication, the Commission offers 'guidelines concerning the exercise of the free movement of workers during COVID-19 outbreak'.

Neither pest management nor any form of hygiene service is mentioned.

Austria ✓* Austria has given an explicit general exemption to hygiene services: §2 19. - Federal law: COVID-19 law.
Belgium ✓*

Belgium permits hygiene services to continue to function in the maintenance of critical services such as hospitals - Federal law on COVID-19.

This reportedly covers pest management.

Bulgaria x  
Croatia x  
Republic of Cyprus x  
Czech Republic x  
Denmark x  
Estonia x  
Finland x

A provision is made for "sanitation services" on the Finnish government's list of critical sectors.
Pest management does not explicitly feature on the list.

France x*

Pest management does not feature on the Government's list of sectors permitted to continue during COVID-19 as a priority. Pest Management companies can continue to operate if their customers allow them to enter their premises.

Germany x

Pest management does not feature on the German federal government's list of critical sectors.

Greece x  
Hungary x  
Ireland x  
Italy Italy has given an explicit exemption to the pest management sector: 81.2 of Annex 1 - Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of 22 March 2020.
Latvia x  
Lithuania x  
Luxembourg x  
Malta x  
Norway x Pest management does not feature on the Norwegian government's list of critical functions.
Netherlands x PCOs can currently still operate, but are not explicitly mentioned as vital sector in the Government's restrictions on activity.
Poland x  
Portugal Portugal has given an explicit exemption to the pest management sector under Article 9 and 12 of the Emergency Decree of 20 March 2020, Annex II – number 31.
Romania x  
Slovakia x  
Slovenia ✓*

Pest management is still able to operate, but is not explicitly mentioned an essential sector in the Government's restrictions on activity.

Notably, pest management activities are defined as mandatory in the cases defined in the Contagious Diseases Act (ZNB) – articles 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.

Spain ✓*

Spain has prohibited certain sectors from opening under Article 10.1 of Royal Decree 463/2020.

Pest management and hygiene services have been confirmed essential by the Ministry of Health and will continue to operate.

Sweden x  
United Kingdom ✓*

The UK government has confirmed that pest management professionals are formally recognised as key workers in England, reports the BCPA.

The Northern Irish Department of Education has confirmed that pest management is an essential profession, reports the BPCA.

Scotland and Wales are yet to follow suit.

Have new information on your country? Let us know and help CEPA keep this table up to date.

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