If you run a business that handles, prepares, or sells food, from a small café to a large factory, you face pressure to maintain hygiene. Pests pose one of the biggest threats to your operation, not just because of how they look but because they carry severe legal penalties. You must not see pest control as an optional expense. You must view it as a mandatory legal requirement for food businesses.
Mitar Enviro specialises in comprehensive commercial pest management to protect your business, reputation, and legal compliance. We offer the pest control Scotland needs from its many food businesses.
Your legal duty under the food safety act 1990
The main piece of legislation governing your responsibilities in Scotland and the UK is the Food Safety Act 1990. This Act places a clear legal obligation on you: you must ensure all food sold is safe for consumption and of the expected quality.
Pests like rats, mice, and cockroaches actively breach this law. They spread harmful bacteria like Salmonella and contaminate food, surfaces and equipment. Local authorities regularly inspect premises, and if they find evidence of pest activity, they can take immediate action:
- Improvement Notices: Requiring you to fix the problem promptly.
- Fines and Prosecution: Legal action for breaches of hygiene standards.
- Business Closure: Immediate closure orders in severe cases that pose an imminent risk to public health.
You can establish a defence of “due diligence” under the Act. Hiring a qualified and certified pest control company like Mitar Enviro demonstrates you took all reasonable precautions to avoid an offence.
Mitar Enviro’s integrated pest management
A one-off treatment does not solve a commercial pest problem. Mitar Enviro employs an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy focused on long-term prevention, which is the industry standard for compliance.
We work through a structured process to secure your premises:
- Technical Inspection: We do not just look for pests. We identify the source, entry points, and conditions attracting them. We look for gaps, pipe openings, and faulty waste storage.
- Structural Proofing: We advise you on, and implement, physical barriers to deny pest entry, such as sealing gaps and installing mesh or strip curtains on doors. Preventing access is always the primary control method.
- Targeted Control: We use safe, industry-approved, and environmentally responsible methods to eliminate any existing infestations. We prioritise non-toxic monitoring systems in sensitive areas, like food production.
- Documentation and Review: We keep detailed, auditable records of all activity, treatments, and recommendations. This documentation is crucial for your HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) systems and for showing compliance to Environmental Health Officers.
Pest Control Scotland
Mitar Enviro is a BPCA (British Pest Control Association) member, ensuring our technicians are fully qualified and adhere to the highest industry standards. You gain peace of mind knowing your pest control is professional, effective, and legally robust. Get in touch to find out more.