Get medical help immediately if you think someone has been poisoned by swallowing, touching or breathing in a pesticide. NHS guidance says call 999 or go to A&E for suspected harmful exposure; call NHS 111 if you are unsure whether the substance is harmful. Do not wait for symptoms. For an exposed animal, contact a vet immediately. Reporting a treatment concern comes after urgent care.
After urgent care, HSE sets out where to report harm to people, animals or the environment from a biocidal pest product. This guide summarises HSE’s pages on reporting exposure to biocides (updated 10 June 2025), on reporting pesticide incidents and on the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme. The guidance covers the United Kingdom, with different authorities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and each section says which applies. It is general information, not legal advice. For how pest products are authorised, see the guide to pest products as biocides.
Step one: seek advice
HSE says the first thing to do after exposure is to seek appropriate medical advice, and immediate veterinary advice if a pet, livestock or other animal may have been made ill. Medical and veterinary staff benefit from as much information as possible about the product or treatment, and HSE notes that medical professionals can get specialist advice from the National Poisons Information Service, which the public cannot contact directly. After that, HSE asks people to report the incident to the appropriate authority.
HSE says incident information can help it identify unforeseen issues, prompt reassessment of authorised products and support enforcement.
Reporting where people are affected
In Great Britain, HSE’s table says an incident where someone has carried out a biocidal treatment in the home as part of their work, for example a professional pest controller, is reported to HSE. Where the treatment was carried out in the home not as part of work, for example by the householder or another member of the public, it is reported to the local authority. For other places, the authority is HSE or the local authority depending on the type of premises. HSE lists premises such as factories, farms, hospitals and nursing homes, schools and colleges and public amenities as its own; local authorities cover places such as hotels, leisure premises, offices, restaurants and shops.
In Northern Ireland the equivalents are HSENI and the district council. HSE’s helpline for its own cases is listed as 0300 003 1647.
Pets, wildlife and the environment
For animals, including wildlife, livestock and pets, HSE directs reports to the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme on its free number, 0800 321 600. The scheme investigates the death or illness of wildlife, pets and beneficial invertebrates that may have resulted from pesticide poisoning, and also covers suspect baits where pesticides may have been inappropriately applied and spillages that pose a risk to wildlife or companion animals. HSE says it is operated independently in all four UK countries using the same number, and in England it is run on HSE’s behalf by Natural England.
For harm to the environment, the page lists the Environment Agency in England, Natural Resources Wales in Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in Northern Ireland, with a phone number for each.
What the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme will and will not take
HSE’s page on investigation procedures in England says the scheme investigates incidents where the professional use of pesticides, including biocides, is suspected of affecting wildlife, beneficial invertebrates or companion animals. Cases accepted fall into three categories: approved use, misuse (not following the conditions, often carelessly or by accident) and abuse (deliberate illegal use to poison animals).
The scheme does not deal with amateur use, disputes between neighbours or incidents within the remit of the local authority under the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998. To be accepted, there must be reasonable grounds to believe pesticides are involved, and HSE lists factors such as the number, location and species of animals involved, baits with identifiable pellets or granules, a veterinary opinion or post-mortem, observations before death and the previous history in the area. The apparent absence of another cause of death is not normally enough. HSE also warns members of the public not to expose themselves to highly toxic materials by handling suspected baits.
What to have ready
HSE asks anyone reporting to provide as much information as possible about the product or treatment, including:
- the product name and active substance;
- the approval or authorisation number;
- when, where and how the exposure happened, and how long it lasted;
- any relevant extreme weather at the time; and
- the effects, for example a report from a medical or veterinary professional.
The information can come from the product label, the person who carried out the treatment, the manufacturer or the safety data sheet, which can be requested from the manufacturer. HSE adds that anyone who cannot obtain all of it should still report the incident and give as much as they can. HSE says incidents should be reported as soon as possible after they occur, for an effective investigation.
FAQs
Does HSE take every report about a neighbour’s pest control?
Not necessarily. HSE’s procedures say the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme does not deal with amateur use or disputes between neighbours.
Who do I report a professional pest controller’s treatment in my home to in Great Britain?
HSE’s table says an incident from a biocidal treatment carried out in the home as part of someone’s work is reported to HSE.
Do I need all the product details before reporting?
No. HSE says to report the incident and provide as much information as you can.
The bottom line
HSE’s guidance is that after medical or veterinary advice, a pest treatment problem should be reported promptly to the authority that matches the situation: HSE for professional treatments in the home, the local authority for amateur use, the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme for harm to pets and wildlife, and the environment agency for the nation concerned for harm to the environment. Product details from the label, the pest controller or the safety data sheet help, but the report should not wait for all of them. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- Poisoning (nhs.uk)
- Reporting exposure to biocides (hse.gov.uk)
- Reporting Incidents (hse.gov.uk)
- Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (hse.gov.uk)
- Investigation procedures in England (hse.gov.uk)