Germany bans preventive rat poison, experts warn of looming rat plague

From June 2027 Germany will prohibit the use of preventive rat poison, known as "befallsunabhängige Dauerbeköderung" (BuD). The ban, decided by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and the Federal Ministry for the Environment under Labour Minister Bärbel Bas and Environment Minister Carsten Schneider, requires companies to demonstrate a confirmed infestation before any rodenticide can be applied.

Experts fear the measure could trigger a resurgence of rats in urban areas. Manuel Klein, vice‑head of the Food Control Association, warned that the new rule will bring "immens höheren Kosten und immens höherem Aufwand" for businesses and may lead to situations reminiscent of the Middle Ages, with rats roaming the streets. Michael Reininger of the Raiffeisen Association warned that firms could be forced to shut for up to 14 days after a four‑week monitoring period, causing severe revenue loss and reputational damage.

The decision follows the Netherlands’ 2023 removal of similar preventive baiting, after which Dutch food‑service venues reported a sharp rise in rat incidents. German authorities hope integrated pest‑management will replace widespread poison use, but critics argue the lack of enough pest‑control specialists could leave the country vulnerable to a rat plague.