National pest control industry’s three day summit kicks off this week in Penang

The national pest control industry market has grown from 500 operators and distributors to over 1,000 last year in tandem with the urbanisation rate.

The pest control industry is now believed to be valued around RM106.26 billion with a compound annual growth rate of 4.9% until 2033.

Urbanisation, construction activities, public health concerns over the bug infestation and a need for food security are among factors contributing to the growth

The household pest or microorganism is now not just a home living nuisance but an expensive one, especially if the dawn of climate change is taken into account.

Hence, the importance of the Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers Associations (FAOPMA)’s pest summit at Penang recently, said its organisers.

Organiser chairman Belven Lee and the Malaysian Pesat Management Association president Regine Lim told a media briefing that public education is crucial if the country and Penang, were to control the growth of pests which range from rodents to wildlife and insects.

Lee and Lim shared their viewpoints, citing that the summit can be the baseline to generate more awareness about the latest strategies to fight bugs.

Sustainable, cost effective, low toxicity

And it has to be done in a sustainable and cost effective way, the duo said.

The industry also needs to unveil low toxicity measures and products when fighting infestations while underline surest way to fight bugs, is proper cleanliness and sanitation.

There is also a need to use plant – based products to clear properties in both commercial and residential areas of pests, said Lim.

Lee also drew attention to commitment from the local authorities to reward food court operators and hawkers who practise good hygiene when selling food.

“It can be a criteria for renewal of permits and an incentive to help the operators hire pest control operators to safeguard their premises.”

Penang Island City Council public health director Dr Chin Wee Loon said that the council has begun to study imposing such conditions on food court operators and hawkers when their licensing is up for renewal.

Chin also said that the council has launched many public campaigns to encourage vendors to adopt a closed system for discarding food waste.

The three – day summit that begins on July 23 at the St Giles Wembley Hotel, in Penang has some 1,500 delegates from 20 countries.