Why the need for a Pest Management Field Biologist?

The exacting and ever more demanding requirements of the food industry and its supply chain has resulted in pest management service providers having to provide more highly qualified personnel (technicians and contractors) to undertake the necessary site analysis, risk assessment, planning and implementation of strategic pest management service delivery in oder to comply with the rigorous criteria associated with today's safe and effective integrated pest management programs.  

This new approach has led to the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA) initiative to provide a formal development program for the specialist role of the Australian Pest Management Field Biologist.

What does the Field Biologist do?

The Field Biologist plays a vital role in the pest management strategy for food industry operations. Working closely with the pest management technicians and food businesses, the Field Biologist will:

• Determine the current levels of pest activity, their detection, source, prevalence and appropriate management;
• Inspect the control processes being applied, audit the quality and sufficiency of the pest management/IPM related records and evaluate and determine trend analysis;
• Work in with site Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Pest Management personnel to examine and advise on alternate and additional controls that could be introduced to mitigate the risk of pest activity, without affecting the HACCP and GMP requirements of the operation; and
• Provide advice on the typical habits, life cycle, sources, behaviour and effective control methods for pests both present and likely, along with prevention measures for the same going forward.

Ultimately, the Field Biologist becomes the central point of contact between food businesses, and pest management service providers (and auditors). The Field Biologist is as skilled in meeting legislative and certification requirements as he or she is in developing Integrated pest Management (IPM) Programs. 

Successful Qualified Field Biologists automatically become members of the Institute of Field Biologists. 

What are AEPMA Industry Codes of Best Practice?

The AEPMA Industry Codes of Best Practice set out industry standards of conduct. Simply put, they are guidelines for fair dealings between you and your clients, and let your clients know what your business agrees to do when dealing with them. Pest professionals who are signatories to the AEPMA Industry Codes of Best Practice affirm that they perform their work and conduct their client relationships according to those codes. The codes are intended to lift our industry standard and lift your standard.

What benefits do Pest Managers get from signing up to an AEPMA Industry Code of Best Practice?

• Being guided by more prescriptive reference documents that you can use as an instruction manual or benchmark for developing and delivering quality, professional services
• You can measure what you’re currently doing and how you’re doing it
• The Codes are freely available to other stakeholders (including your client market)
• Promote your business as a AEPMA Accredited COP Signatory and display the formal logo(s) on your website, paperwork and marketing material
• Provides a clear and transparent dispute resolution process for both pest managers and their clients
• Take advantage of the code training packages supporting each code and receive certification

Introduction to the Pest Management in the Food Industry Code of Best Practice course

Pest Management is an essential and mandatory contributor and pre-requisite to the safe preparation, production, transporting, storing & serving of food free from contamination.

Whether your client is a small take-away coffee shop in a back lane, or a huge multi-national food manufacturing plant stretching for acres in every direction, the safe handling of food is universally regulated by law and subject to standards and compliance which must be adhered to.

The structure and delivery of pest services within these environments demands specific and esoteric knowledge, skills and capabilities. This training module and the Code of Industry Best Practice it supports is intended to guide and empower stake-holders in this process

What is the purpose of this course?

To support the AEPMA Industry Code of Best Practice for Pest Management in the Food Industry and to provide a level of prescriptive guidance, specifications and recommendations for safe and appropriate Pest Management based on practical and acknowledged current Best Practice specific to food handling operations and the delivery of food which is unaffected by pests.

Who is this course recommended for?

The course is suited to people who are already licensed and experienced pest management technicians, field supervisors and account managers who are involved or aspire to be involved in the delivery of pest management services to food businesses. It provides a somewhat technical and prescriptive approach to how an individual can be more effective when dealing with food industry businesses and their pest management needs utilising an integrated approach.