SINGAPORE – A new national framework introduced for professional pest management services in Singapore aims to promote safer, sustainable and more effective pest control practices here.

The framework, The Code of Practice for the Performance of Pest Management Services, or SS721, incorporates integrated pest management principles.

This refers to a sustainable approach that prioritises prevention whilst minimising harm to people, other animals and the environment by using measures such as biological controls and habitat modification, as well as the judicious use of pesticides.

The framework was developed by a working group, which included educational institutions and pest management solutions companies, co-led by experts from the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Singapore Pest Management Association (SPMA).

It was developed under the purview of the Singapore Standards Council and overseen by Enterprise Singapore.

In a statement, the NEA noted the new standard advocates “a shift from reactive chemical treatments to proactive, science-based approaches”.

These include emphasising the elimination of the root causes of infestations, as well as reducing dependency on chemicals by promoting low-toxicity alternatives and targeted applications.

“By addressing the root causes of pest infestation, we can reduce our reliance on pesticides. This allows us to achieve our pest management goals in the most cost-effective manner, while protecting human health and the environment,” said the NEA.

Integrated pest management principles have guided Singapore’s vector control approach for decades, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary.

He noted that one example of these principles in practice has been Project Wolbachia, an initiative to control the Aedes mosquito population here through the release of lab-grown male mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria.

Project Wolbachia has resulted in up to 90 per cent reductions in Aedes aegypti populations and more than 70 per cent lower dengue risk in release areas, Dr Janil said.

“Singapore’s experience with Project Wolbachia demonstrates that innovative biological control methods can be scaled safely and effectively when backed by strong science, technology development, and community support,” he said.

The new framework will see a greater emphasis on environmental management as waste is the common habitat for many pests, said Associate Professor Ng Lee Ching, group director of NEA’s Environmental Health Institute (EHI).

However chemicals will still be used “appropriately and judiciously”, particularly in severe cases such as dengue outbreaks, said Prof Ng.

“In the case of a dengue outbreak, we want to target the infected mosquitoes that may be already flying in an environment,” she said.

SPMA president Clement Tan said the association would encourage its members to adopt such practices. One way in which pest control firms here could do so is by reducing the use of glue boards, he suggested.

Glue boards are used to trap pests such as rats, but have also been

found to trap other wildlife such as birds

.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 9th Singapore International Dengue Workshop, held at the Jen Singapore Tanglin Hotel, Dr Janil also announced that UniteDengue – a regional network for cross-border sharing of dengue surveillance information – will expand its scope to monitor other mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika and chikungunya.

UNITEDengue, which includes 12 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, is also now linked to a wider global research network, the Dengue and Zika Immunology and Genomics Network, which is co-led by the EHI.

Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Dr Janil Puthucheary speaking at the opening ceremony of the 9th Singapore International Dengue Workshop.

PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

“We look forward to reaping synergies between the two research networks. Together, they will help build a resilient global community, which can respond to emerging vector-borne threats effectively,” said Dr Janil.

Dr Janil noted that dengue is the fastest-growing mosquito-borne disease in the world, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting a record 14 million cases worldwide in 2024, breaking the previous record of 6.5 million cases set a year earlier.

This rise has been accompanied by a surge in dengue-related deaths, with more than 11,000 globally in 2024, he added.

According to WHO data, there were more than four million dengue cases reported worldwide in the first seven months of 2025, with more than 3,000 deaths from the disease.