Professional pest control: a complete HACCP guide

If your business involves catering, preparing, or selling food products to the public, you are directly or indirectly affected by the requirements now imposed by HACCP. In this context, limiting the proliferation of insects—whether in your food business such as a bakery, butcher shop, pastry shop, or cheese shop, in the food market, in your restaurant, and especially in the food processing industry—is mandatory.
However, to guarantee this hygiene, choosing a glue or electric grid model depending on the areas and your profession requires understanding the differences.

Glue board or electric grill: which to choose for your food preparation areas?

Three technologies share the market for professional insect killers : glue boards (attract with UV light then capture on adhesive), electric grids (attract with UV light then instantly kill on a live grid), and pheromone traps (for more targeted use). For food areas (kitchens, dishwashing areas, food preparation, and storage), glue boards are the only solution accepted by HACCP protocols and IFS Food and BRC Food audits, for a simple reason: electric grid insect killers project insect fragments when they are instantly killed , potentially contaminating food up to 2 meters around the device.

Glue board insect killer: the HACCP standard

Flying insects are attracted to the UV light emitted by the device's fluorescent or LED tubes, then captured and held on an adhesive board inside the housing. The board is replaced periodically, along with all the insects it contains, resulting in no release into the environment.
This technology is the only one accepted by HACCP protocols in food areas (kitchen, dishwashing, food preparation, and storage) because it prevents any cross-contamination. It is also the only one authorized in IFS Food, BRC Food Safety, and ISO 22000 audits, as well as in the specifications of major food retailers. Recommended by the DDPP (formerly DSV) throughout France. Discover our complete range of glue board insect killers .

The electric grill: to be reserved for non-food areas

Principle: Insects are attracted by UV light and then instantly killed upon contact with a live metal grid (up to 4,000 V). The insect is pulverized at the moment of electrocution, with biological fragments projected up to 2 meters around the device.
Effectively prohibited in food areas, any risk of fragments contaminating food, surfaces, and opened packaging is eliminated. Reserved for non-food areas: logistics warehouses (excluding food), non-food production workshops, outdoor areas, garages, and agricultural sheds (excluding livestock buildings). The characteristic popping sound produced by each insect struck by lightning is incompatible with restaurant dining areas.
The comparison below summarizes the technological choice.

HACCP regulatory framework: what French law says

In France, all establishments that handle foodstuffs are subject to European Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, known as the "Hygiene Package". This regulation mandates the implementation of a food safety management system based on the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).

Obligation to combat pests

Regulation 852/2004 (Annex II, Chapter IX) requires: “Adequate procedures must be in place to control pests. Adequate procedures must also be in place to prevent domestic animals from accessing areas where food is prepared, handled or stored.” Flying insects (houseflies, fruit flies, midges, chironomids, moths) are among the pests covered.

In practice, the fight against flying insects must be explicitly included in the establishment's Health Control Plan (HCP), with a description of the method (insect killers, mosquito net doors, strip curtains), the plan for the installation of the devices, the frequency of control and the traceability of interventions.

The audit frameworks that control

Three audit frameworks are the most stringent on this subject:

• IFS Food (International Featured Standards): mandatory audit for supplying French supermarket chains. Glue board insect killers are explicitly recommended in the standard.
• BRC Food Safety (British Retail Consortium): British equivalent, required by Anglo-Saxon retailers and increasingly by French distributors.
• ISO 22000: International standard for food safety management. Incorporates the HACCP principle + quality management (ISO 9001).

DDPP inspections

The Departmental Directorate for Population Protection (DDPP, formerly DSV) regularly inspects food establishments. The inspector systematically checks: the presence of suitable insect killers in food areas, their positioning (not above unpackaged food), their maintenance (unsaturated glue boards, functional UV tubes), their registration in the PMS and the traceability of glue board changes.

Non-compliance on this point may result in: a warning (first visit), a formal notice to comply within 30 days, an administrative fine, or even administrative closure in the event of a proven untreated infestation.

Other sectors concerned

Beyond restaurants and food processing industries, several other sectors are subject to similar obligations: healthcare facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, clinics — reinforced obligation in sterile areas), dispensing pharmacies, medical analysis laboratories, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals (GMP standard), chemical industries in certain sensitive areas.

Sizing your shredder: what surface area for how many watts?

The radiation power is directly related to the surface area to be covered (or to the volume if the ceiling height is very high). However, it is better to use several medium-power devices than one or two high-power ones in the case of areas with complex geometry.
Undersizing is the primary cause of inefficiency observed in HACCP audits. A 5W insect killer in a 150m² kitchen captures only 20% of the insects present. The UV power must be adjusted to the actual surface area of the room and its configuration (partitions, shaded areas, ceiling height).
The UV attraction power must be calibrated for the actual surface area to be covered, taking into account shaded areas and partitions. Here are the typical values for a standard room without excessive partitions.

Correction factors to be applied

The above rule applies to a rectangular room without partitions, with a ceiling height of 2.50 to 3 m. Adjust according to these factors:

• Ceiling > 3.50 m: increase the power by 25%.
• The premises are very compartmentalized (offices, L-shaped kitchen): each zone should be counted separately.
• Highly frequented service doors: install a second device opposite the main entrance.
• Windows without mosquito nets in summer: increase the power by 30 to 50% or add strip curtains.

IP20 to IP65 protection rating: zone by zone

The IP rating indicates the device's resistance to dust (first digit, 0 to 6) and liquids (second digit, 0 to 9). An IP20 insect killer installed in a sink will degrade in 6 to 12 months due to corrosion of its electronic components. The correct IP rating for each zone:

Installation, height and location: best practices in the field

An incorrectly positioned insect killer can lose up to 60% of its effectiveness. Three golden rules from professional pest control protocols.

Rule 1 — Installation height between 1.80 m and 2.20 m

Houseflies and fruit flies primarily fly in the air between 1.50 m and 2.50 m above the floor. A device installed flush with the ceiling (> 2.50 m) is poorly positioned. A device installed less than 1.80 m obstructs pedestrian traffic and quickly becomes soiled by cleaning splashes. The optimal height, measured from the floor to the center of the device, is between 1.80 m and 2.20 m.

Rule 2 — Separation of competing light sources

The insect killer attracts insects with its UV light. Any other light source within a 3-meter radius (window, fluorescent light, doorway) competes with this attraction and reduces its effectiveness by 2 or 3. Position the device on a wall away from light sources, ideally facing an area of relative shade to maximize contrast.

Rule 3 — Orientation towards insect entry zones

Flying insects primarily enter through service doors (delivery, waste exit), loading docks, and ventilation openings. Position the device so that its light is visible from these entry points: either on the wall opposite the service door or on a perpendicular wall. Avoid placing the device with its back to the door.

Places to absolutely avoid

• Above or in the immediate vicinity of unpackaged food: the glue board can retain an insect for several days, the heat from the UV tube creates a micro-flow of air.
• Above worktops, preparation tables, central islands.
• Directly above a door: loss of efficiency and visual obstruction.
• In a corner of a wall: reduces the useful attraction radius.
• Facing a mirror or a shiny metallic surface: a stray reflection that deceives the attraction.

Number of devices depending on the configuration

For a standard kitchen without partitions: one properly sized appliance is sufficient. For an L-shaped kitchen or one with separate service areas: allow one appliance per zone. For a food processing workshop larger than 300 m² with both wet and dry areas: combine an IP20 appliance in the dry area and an IP65 appliance in the wet area. For large preparation areas (> 500 m²), our technical department will provide a free layout plan upon request.

Maintenance and replacement of consumables

A well-maintained professional insect killer retains its effectiveness for 8 to 12 years. Three consumables should be used, depending on the model and usage.

Glue board: every 2 months during the season

The glue board must be replaced every two months during periods of insect activity (March to October in mainland France), with this interval potentially increasing to three months during the winter months (November to February) depending on the observed insect activity. In an HACCP audit, a glue board saturated with more than 30% visible insects is considered non-compliant and must be replaced immediately.

Record each plate change in the PMS with the date, technician reference, and device serial number. Our /glue-plates category offers plates compatible with all listed brands, packaged individually, in packs of 5, or in packs of 10 for multiple fleets.

UV fluorescent tube: every 12 months

A UV fluorescent tube has an effective lifespan of 8,000 to 10,000 hours, but its UV emission decreases drastically well before the tube visibly burns out: after just 12 months of continuous use, the UV emission useful for attracting insects is reduced by 40 to 60%. The tube may still appear to be illuminating, but it no longer attracts insects effectively. A practical rule of thumb is to replace UV tubes every year at the beginning of the season (March). Record the replacement in the PMS (Program Management System). Our /tube-neon-destructeur category offers compatible replacement UV tubes.
As of today, compact fluorescent tubes will be permanently banned from sale from 2027 to make way for UV LED lamps.

Next generation UV LEDs: every 5 years

The new generation of UV LED lamps, featured in most of our current catalog (BRC, Pelsis, and Voussert LED brands), has a lifespan of 30,000 to 50,000 hours—approximately 5 years of continuous 24/7 operation. There is no decrease in UV emission during this period. LED technology is 60% more energy-efficient than an equivalent fluorescent tube.

Comparative annual cost for an equivalent 14W model: UV tube = €40 consumables + €55 electricity = €95 (excluding VAT). UV LED = €0 consumables + €22 electricity = €22 (excluding VAT). The initial extra cost of LEDs is recouped in 2 to 3 years, followed by continuous savings over the next 3 to 4 years.

General cleaning of the device

Dust the exterior of the housing every 3 months with a dry microfiber cloth (never use water or chemicals on the electronic components). Clean the internal collection tray each time you change the glue board. Have the electrical wiring checked annually by a qualified technician (required for BRC Food audits).

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