Switzerland: Ban on Anticoagulant Rodenticides for Private Use
As of today, 1st of April 2025, Switzerland will no longer authorize the use of anticoagulant-based rodenticides for the control of mice and rats by private individuals. Existing approvals for such products will be revoked for non-professional use, and after the transition period, these products may no longer be sold to private households. This regulation is based on the sales phase-out provisions outlined in Article 26a of the Swiss Biocidal Products Ordinance (VBP). The decision is driven by the considerable risks that anticoagulants pose to both human health and the environment. These substances cause internal bleeding in target organisms by disrupting blood clotting, leading to a prolonged dying process—a practice that raises serious animal welfare concerns. In addition, anticoagulants are persistent in the environment, bioaccumulative, and toxic—classifying them as PBT substances. A 2022 study by Rietgraf et al. revealed residues of these compounds in numerous Swiss wildlife species, including foxes, birds of prey, hedgehogs, and even fish. These findings indicate widespread contamination of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, with secondary poisoning through contaminated prey playing a key role.
