UK’s Rob Fryatt Gains Different Perspective at NPMA Legislative Day

Editor’s note: An interested observer at NPMA’s Legislative Day in February was Rob Fryatt, owner of Xenex Associates Ltd., a UK-based international commercial business services company dedicated to the pest management industry and director general of CEPA, the Confederation of European Pest Control Associations. Fryatt made the trip overseas to gain a better understanding of how PCOs and other pest control industry professionals make their voices heard on pressing regulatory issues. PCT’s Brad Harbison caught up with Fryatt recently to discus his Legislative Day visit and other topics.

Q: What types of regulatory pressures do UK pest control operators face?
A: I think what we are seeing are two types of regulation. One is government rules — a  focus on regulatory issues such as how label language impacts the way we use products. The other is the impact of auditor pressures on regulation. This is especially true with commercial pest control. Across Europe we are getting used to operating under a different set of rules — those set forth by food suppliers or large international auditing bodies, such as AIB as well as the government regulations.

Q: How is the regulatory climate changing in Europe?
A: Currently, we are in a state of flux. We are still working under national rules, but are transitioning to the European Biocidal Products Directive. (Known as Directive 98/8/EC) the directive aims at harmonizing the European market for biocidal products and their active substances. For more information visit http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biocides/index.htm).

Q: Do European pest control operators have an event similar to NPMA Legislative Day? How are individual pest control operators involved in lobbying?
Good comment. There is a fundamental cultural difference between the U.S. and Europe in the way in which you get access to (legislators). In the U.S., you are dealing with state legislators working in a federal environment, whereas with each country in Europe you are dealing with national legislators, who aren’t necessarily unique to the group you are trying to lobby within the European community.

Q: Why did you decide to attend NPMA Legislative Day?
A: I’ve been watching this event, and watching it grow, for years. I wanted to get a first-hand look at the program, find out why it has been successful in the U.S., learn from it, and modify it with the goal of having a similar program in Europe. It would be important for us in Europe to adapt our own cultural approach to an event like NPMA Legislative Day. So I was there to see how the meeting and lobbying process fit together — to see what speakers they brought in and how the meeting culminated with visits to Capitol Hill.

Q: Now that you’ve participated in NPMA Legislative Day, what are some lasting impressions?
A: It’s a fantastic opportunity to talk to everyone and find out how people are managing various issues. For example, PCOs from places with difficult regulatory challenges — like New York and California — could share their experiences with PCOs in states not facing the same challenges. This is valuable information for these PCOs to take back to their states. I left with a feeling that everyone was in this together — battling for industry and business issues.

Q: How did you think your Capitol Hill visit went?
A: I went with the group from Indiana and I think the progress is measured by the fact that they went along, they felt their case had been heard and they can go back to their state association and say, “We went there and we raised these issues.” That is progress because it brings your industry together behind the issues.

Q: Do European pest controllers have similar type of events?
A: About 60 pest control companies and manufacturers from the French Pest Control Association held their annual convention in Brussels (which is head of the European Commission). They spent a day meeting with bureaucrats, not just from France, but (from all over Europe) inside of the European Parliament Building. They discussed how legislation impacts our industry and explained our point of view. It was very forward-thinking of them to do so. This was an important initiative.

We also have a European Pest Management Day scheduled for Nov. 22. It will be similar to the convention in Brussels with speakers from the national and European level. But again, getting the government to understand our perspective is only half the battle — we still have a lot of work to do with the independent auditing groups.