Two companies of very different sizes have become the first in the UK to meet the requirements of the European Standard for Pest Management Services (EN16636) and both have become CEPA Certified. They are: multinational Ecolab and Bradford-based Premier Pest Control.
CEPA Certified was launched in Brussels on 17 March to underpin the European Standard in pest management services (EN16636), which is the first European Standard ever to be established for a service industry. But EN16636 is available for anyone to purchase and use. What turns it into something of true value is a system to ensure those who claim to be following the standard, actually are following it – in other words a proper auditing system to guarantee the quality of work and keep the cowboys out.
| It was a close race but, in the end, Ecolab has become the proud owner of the first UK CEPA Certificate. However, Premier Pest Control, as winner of a free of charge certification audit in a draw on the Confederation of European Pest Management Association’s (CEPA) stand at PestEx this March, can claim to be the first UK company to be measured against the Standard.
Commenting on the achievement, Roy Smith, general manager of Ecolab Pest Elimination UK and Ireland said: “I am particularly proud that we have been issued with the first CEPA certificate under the European Pest Management Standard. This not only underlines our confidence that our operations meet the highest possible standards, but demonstrates that we place quality at the forefront of everything we do. This is a step forward for the professional standards within our industry and we wanted to be first. We take our responsibilities in leading the pest control marketplace very seriously indeed.” Chris Cunningham of Premier Pest Control said: “The EN16636 Standard and CEPA Certified status is a mark of quality, so the fact we were the first company to be accredited is a feather in our cap. It has been a lot of hard work to achieve it, but the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) helped us to get there and we think it will be worth the effort. |
Ecolab is presented with the CEPA Certified certificate in European Pest Management. Left to right: Roy Smith, general manager Ecolab Pest Elimination UK and Ireland, Jill Peard Ecolab, Jessica Morgan Bureau Veritas, Henry Mott CEPA preseident and Mark Williams Ecolab
Chris Cunningham, managing director of Premier Pest Control (right), at the first UK CEPA Certified audit meeting carried out by Peter Davison of auditors, Bureau Veritas. |
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| “The process involved having a team of professional auditors visit our business and test all our systems against a very strict standard. For us to pass with flying colours means that we can call ourselves the best in the industry.”
Simon Forrester, chief executive of the BPCA, believes the accreditation demonstrates that Ecolab and Premier are on a level playing field with the best pest management companies in the world. And he has challenged all of the trade body’s member companies to follow their lead. Simon commented: “The EN16636 Standard was developed by the European pest control industry to demonstrate professional credentials. The very different size of the first two companies to win accreditation is an illustration of how the Standard will benefit everyone. “Each BPCA member must be at least working towards the Standard from January and we’re aiming to help everyone pass the audit by the deadline of June 2017. Those who don’t meet the criteria at the moment will be offered all the help and support they need to get there.” |
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