Pest control companies in Abu Dhabi have been told that when using chemicals in seeking to eradicate rodents, these must be marked clearly as being harmful to humans.
Abu Dhabi environment and waste authority said contractors were expected to adhere to the highest local and international standards when operating in the city.
An animal welfare group run by a local vet recently discovered clear packets of bromadiolone in and around community play areas.
The potent chemical is used to kill rodents and can be lethal if ingested by dogs and cats.
We have set guidelines for pest control providers that adhere to the highest local and international standards
Dr Salem Al Kaabi,
Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre (Tadweer)
Although not deadly in humans, the chemical can induce nosebleeds, bruising, headaches and soreness to muscles.
“Pest controllers are using unlabelled, home-made devices using poison for rats and mice near residential areas,” said Dr Susan Aylott, an animal welfare volunteer.
“We have seen around 30 of these open canisters placed close to homes and near children’s playgrounds.
“They are open to the elements and only some were labelled as toxic poison.
“It needs to be taken seriously, as people do not seem to understand the strength of these chemicals.
“They can easily drop out of the traps and look like small bags of red candy, which children could pick up.”
Dr Aylott runs programmes with volunteer vets in the city to trap, neuter and release stray cats in an attempt to reduce the numbers on the street.
Pest controllers are not allowed in these controlled areas because of the risk of poisoning stray cats and dogs, she said.
Tadweer’s guidelines aim to provide a unified technical framework for controlling public health through defining quality standards and procedures for pest control services.
Emma Button, who rescues hundreds of cats a year in Abu Dhabi to relocate to the UK, said poisoning by unlicensed pet controllers was a persistent issue.
“Tadweer has a set of guidelines that state a pest controller must put down marked traps saying who they belong to, but many traps we see do not have that labelling,” she said.
“Some companies we know do not have licensing for animals, just general pest control so should not be trapping at all.
“The traps need to be monitored, so as soon as they have captured an animal they can be collected. Often the traps are just left unattended.”
Stray animals have been considered by the Tadweer guidance as urban pests that may cause nuisance and discomfort to residents, or spread zoonotic disease.
The guidance also covers activities related to 'stray animals impounding service' for all companies working in Abu Dhabi.
It controls services by which stray animals are captured, impounded, transported, treated and rehomed, and is used for dogs, cats, foxes and rabbits.
To perform Public Health Pest Control Services in the emirate, staff must be certified by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council and have proper experience in the field of public health pest control.
The use of pesticides and poisons by unqualified pest controllers can have devastating consequences.
Substances containing aluminium phosphide, known as 'bomb', are banned for public sale in the UAE but have been used in pellets to kill rodents.
The industrial pesticide was blamed on the death of 10-year-old schoolboy Khuzaimah Khan in 2019, whose family home in Al Nahda, Sharjah was fumigated.
In Abu Dhabi, development of pest control service guidelines released in October involved a working group of 11 other entities including UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and municipalities.
“At Tadweer, we ensure that our services do not cause any threat to public health and the environment,” said Dr Salem Al Kaabi, director general of Tadweer.
“We aim to provide the best quality of life and keep our communities clean and disease-free.
“Accordingly, we have set guidelines for pest control providers that adhere to the highest local and international standards, which comes in line with our vision to build a sustainable waste management system in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
“Throughout our work, we are putting more emphasis on sustainability and innovation to ensure providing the best services to our customers and the community.
“In doing so, we ensure moving in the right direction towards building integrated waste management and pest control systems.”
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More on Quran memorisation:
How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The biog
From: Ras Al Khaimah
Age: 50
Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years
Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'
Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
