What Is IPM Certification?
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) certifications help pest management purchasers verify that the services they are buying follow the long term pest prevention methodology of IPM. The IPM process includes identification of pests, pest monitoring, source reduction, treatment thresholds, multiple integrated tactics with the non-chemical/reduced-risk options first and evaluation for continuous improvement.
Why Become IPM Certified?
IPM certifications were created to serve conscientious pest management purchasers that seek to reduce the risk of pesticides to people in buildings and the environment at large. This market of reduced-risk pest management is driven by:
- Municipalities that seek remediate creeks and surface waters that have historically been impacted by pesticide run-off.
- Building developers and property managers applying for LEED Green Building certification by adopting maintenance practices that do not degrade indoor air-quality.
- Schools that strive to meet and exceed the requirements of the Healthy Schools Act.
- Early adopters of industry best practices.
Who Provides IPM Certification?
There are three IPM certifications that are recognized by the industry and academia as comprehensive and similar in focus - to reduce the risk posed by pesticides and ineffective pest management programs. These programs are Ecowise Certified, Green Shield Certified, and GreenPro.
EcoWise
Products applied indoors:
- No EPA Category I (Danger) or Category II (Warning) pesticides are allowed.
- No pesticides with active ingredients classified as known, probable, likely, or possible carcinogens.
- No Reproductive or Developmental Toxins.
- No endocrine disruptors.
- No Pesticides Containing Cholinesterase Inhibitors.
Products applied outdoors:
- No Products listed in the Clean Water Act or California’s Groundwater Protection List.
- No active ingredients that are considered to be extremely toxic to birds, fish, bees, and wildlife.
- No active ingredients with an average soil half life greater than 99 days.
- No products likely to contaminate groundwater.
- No active ingredients with high soil mobility.
- No active ingredient that is a persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic substance on the US EPA Waste Minimization Priority list.
Other key distinctions: Ecowise certifies IPM Practitioners with training, examination, and minimum length of experience. Certified IPM Practitioners must provide the initial inspection, implement, and oversee the IPM program.
Green Shield
- No pesticides labeled “Danger” or “Warning” are used. If a pesticide is used that is exempt from registration by US EPA, it does not exceed criteria for “Danger” or “Warning,” i.e., acute oral, dermal or inhalation toxicity; skin or eye sensitivity.
- No pesticides with ingredients classified as known, probable, likely or possible carcinogens by US EPA, the International Agency for Research on Cancer or the California Proposition 65 List are used.
- No pesticides with ingredients classified as reproductive or developmental toxins by US EPA or the California Proposition 65 List are used.
- No pesticides with ingredients classified as known, probable or suspected endocrine disruptor by US EPA or the European Union are used.
- No pesticides containing cholinesterase inhibitors, or with ingredients listed as neurotoxins on US EPA Toxics Release Inventory are used.
Other key differences: Green Shield certifies properties Integrated Pest Management programs.
GreenPro
Pesticide treatments are directed as needed only and determinations of pesticide selection is the responsibility of the pest management service provider.
Other key differences: GreenPro certification is a program of the National Pest Management Association. GreenPro requires that companies meet QualityPro standards of good business practice and high professional standards.
References
BIRC: http://www.birc.org/JanFeb2009.pdf
UC IPM green Bulletin: http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=13547
Ecowise Standards: http://www.birc.org/EcoWiseStandards.pdf
Green Shield: http://www.greenshieldcertified.org
GreenPro: https://www.npmaqualitypro.org/available-credentials/greenpro/