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Sanitary Pest Control Occupation Regulation Law, 5776-2016

חוק הסדרת העיסוק בהדברה תברואית, תשע"ו-2016

Published: 2016-02-16Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2025-11-12 · Last amended 2023-11-19✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-17
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

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Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Chapter VII: Miscellaneous Provisions

Implementation and Regulations§

48.

The Minister is responsible for implementing the provisions of this Law and may, with the approval of the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee of the Knesset, make Regulations for its implementation.

Amendment of Schedules§

49.

The Minister, after consulting the Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and with the approval of the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee of the Knesset, may, by Order, amend the Schedules, provided that the Schedules shall not include animals that are a protected wildlife species or a protected natural value.

Fees§

50.

The Minister, with the approval of the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee of the Knesset, may prescribe fees for examinations, for the submission of an application for recognition of a training programme or a course, for the submission of an application for a licence or a special permit under section 58 or for its renewal, for participation in courses under the provisions of section 17 or under the provisions of section 58(d)(3), and a licence fee or a special permit fee.

Collection of Fines and Monetary Sanctions and Their Transfer to the Keep Israel Tidy Fund§

51.
(a)The Fines, Fees and Costs Collection Authority Law, 5755-1995 shall apply to the collection of fines and monetary sanctions under this Law.
(b)A fine and a monetary sanction imposed under this Law shall be paid to the Keep Israel Tidy Fund within the meaning of the Keep Israel Tidy Law, 5744-1984.

Non-application and savings provisions§

52.
(a)The provisions of this Law shall not apply to the control of pests on the bodies of humans or animals, to pest control for agricultural purposes in plants produced for the purpose of generating their produce for marketing and in installations in which agricultural produce treatment activity is carried out in relation to such plants, or to pest control in installations used for the raising of animals; for this purpose, "agricultural produce treatment activity" means the growing, harvesting and gathering of agricultural produce of plant origin as well as storage in the farmer's installations, sorting, packing and labelling of such produce while it is fresh after harvesting or gathering and without processing, as well as ripening or cutting operations carried out in a packing house for vegetables or fruit pursuant to the Plant Production and Marketing Supervision Law, 5771-2011.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), if a provision under law prescribes that a particular act to which provisions under that subsection apply shall be carried out by a pest controller only, the provisions of this Law shall apply to that act, with the necessary modifications.
(c)Nothing in the provisions of this Law shall derogate from the provisions of any other law, including any law concerning the preservation of nature, protection of animals, the handling of pesticides, pest control for the purpose of preventing the spread of diseases, including diseases from animals at the place where they are kept, or safety at work, including the following laws:
(1)the Labour Inspection Organisation Law, 5714-1954;
(2)the Rabies Ordinance, 1934;
(3)the Public Health Ordinance, 1940;
(4)the Wildlife Protection Law;
(5)the Plant Protection Law, 5716-1956;
(6)the Business Licensing Law, 5728-1968;
(7)the Work Safety Ordinance [New Version], 5730-1970;
(8)the Animal Diseases Ordinance [New Version], 5745-1985;
(9)the Hazardous Substances Law;
(10)the Animal Welfare (Protection of Animals) Law, 5754-1994;
(11)the National Parks Law.

Application to the State§

53.
(a)This Law shall apply to the State.
(b)The provisions of section 19 of the Environmental Protection Law shall apply for the purposes of this Law, with the following modifications: the procedure within the meaning of that section shall be determined after consulting the responsible Minister as defined in section 10 of that Law; the first such procedure shall be determined within 90 days from the day of publication of this Law.

Amendment of Administrative Courts Law – No. 95§

54.

In the Administrative Courts Law, 5760-2000, in the First Schedule, in item 21, at its end the following shall be inserted:

"(28) Sanitary Pest Control Occupation Regulation Law, 5776-2016.".

Amendment of Environmental Protection (Supervision and Enforcement Powers) Law – No. 4§

55.

(Indirect amendment of the Environmental Protection (Supervision and Enforcement Powers) Law, 5771-2011)

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Chapter VIII: Commencement and Transitional Provisions

Commencement§

56.

This Law shall commence on the 24th of Iyyar 5776 (1 June 2016) (hereinafter — the commencement day).

Transitional Provisions regarding the Licensing Obligation§

57.
(a)In this Chapter —

"insects" — insects enumerated in the First Schedule and the Second Schedule;

"rodents" — rodents enumerated in the First Schedule and the Second Schedule;

"Pest Control Regulations" — the Business Licensing (Pest Control) Regulations, 5735-1975, as in force on the eve of the commencement day.

(b)A person who, on the eve of the commencement day, held a permit under the Pest Control Regulations as detailed in the paragraphs below shall be deemed to hold the pest controller's licence listed alongside that permit, until the expiry of the permit held or until three years from the commencement day, whichever is the later, unless the licence was revoked or suspended earlier under the provisions of this Law:
(1)an insect extermination permit only — a pest controller's licence for buildings and open areas restricted to pest control of pests that are insects;
(2)a rodent extermination permit only — a pest controller's licence for buildings and open areas restricted to pest control of pests that are rodents;
(3)an insect extermination permit and a rodent extermination permit — a pest controller's licence for buildings and open areas;
(4)a fumigation permit — a pest controller's licence for fumigation.
(c)The renewal of the licence of a person deemed to hold a pest controller's licence under the provisions of subsection (b) shall be governed by the provisions under this Law; however, the renewal of the licence of a person deemed to hold a pest controller's licence as referred to in paragraphs (1) or (2) of subsection (b) shall be only for the licences detailed in those paragraphs, as the case may be, unless the applicant for renewal of the licence satisfies the conditions under this Law for obtaining another licence.

Transitional Provisions regarding Pest Control Workers§

58.
(a)Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 3 and 6, a person who, on the eve of the commencement day, worked as a pest control worker as defined in the Pest Control Regulations (in this Chapter — pest control worker) may assist a pest controller in carrying out pest control and a pest controller may be assisted by a pest control worker as aforesaid, even if the conditions in section 6 are not met, until three years from the commencement day, and the provisions of Section E of Chapter III of those Regulations shall continue to apply to the assisting pest controller and the pest control worker with the necessary modifications and with the following modification: the powers vested in the Director under regulation 40 shall be vested in the Registrar after consultation with the Advisory Committee.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7(a)(5)(a), the Registrar may recognise a period of work of a pest control worker as actual engagement in pest control as though the worker held a licence, provided that the worker has proved, to the Registrar's satisfaction, that the worker worked lawfully on the eve of the commencement day for at least five years, in a sufficiently professional manner.
(c)Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 3 and 6, the Registrar may issue a special permit for the carrying out of certain pest control operations as detailed below, even if the conditions under section 6 are not met, provided that the conditions in subsection (d)(1) are satisfied:
(1)to a person who, on the eve of the commencement day, was employed by a local authority as a pest control worker for at least ten years — a special permit for carrying out certain pest control operations within the framework of that person's work at the local authority; the validity of the special permit shall be until the day on which the pest control worker to whom the permit was issued ceases to work at the local authority at which that worker was employed at the time of receiving the permit, unless it was revoked earlier;
(2)to a person who, on the eve of the commencement day, was employed as a pest control worker for at least ten years, and who is likely to reach retirement age as defined in the Retirement Age Law, 5764-2004 within seven years from the commencement day — a special permit whose validity shall be for a period to be determined therein by the Registrar, which shall not be less than one year, and which may be renewed for additional periods, provided that the total of all the periods shall not exceed seven years from the day on which the permit was first issued;

the Registrar shall include in the special permit operations that pose a low risk to the public and the environment, and in respect of pest control workers in local authorities — operations carried out by the local authority for the purpose of fulfilling its statutory functions, all as prescribed by the Minister by Order for this purpose.

(d)
(1)A special permit as referred to in subsection (c) shall be issued if all of the following conditions are met:
(a)the pest control worker submitted to the Registrar, within one year of the publication of the Order as referred to in subsection (c), an application for a special permit that includes information and documents attesting to the worker's employment and experience in carrying out the operations, and the Registrar may examine the worker's proficiency in carrying out such work prior to issuing the special permit;
(b)the pest control worker has not been convicted of a criminal offence which, by reason of its nature, severity or circumstances, renders the worker unfit to receive a special permit;
(c)the pest control worker receives instructions for carrying out the work from a pest controller holding an appropriate licence under this Law;
(2)the Registrar shall register in the register under section 13 a pest control worker to whom a special permit has been issued under this section;
(3)the Registrar may make the special permit subject to conditions, including as regards participation in courses;
(4)the provisions of this Law, except for the provisions of sections 3, 4, 6 to 9, 17, 21 and 22, shall apply to a person holding a special permit with respect to the pest control operations prescribed in the special permit issued to that person, as though that person held a pest controller's licence, with the necessary modifications and as the case may be.

Transitional Provision regarding Examinations§

59.
(a)Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7(a)(4) —
(1)until six months from the commencement day, the Registrar may issue a pest controller's licence to an applicant even if the applicant has not received training as referred to in section 7(a)(4), provided that the applicant has passed examinations conducted by the Registrar, as detailed below:
(a)a pest controller's licence for buildings and open areas restricted to pest control of pests that are insects only — a person who passed examinations conducted under the provisions of regulation 22 of the Pest Control Regulations and the Second Schedule to those Regulations;
(b)a pest controller's licence for buildings and open areas restricted to pest control of pests that are rodents only — a person who passed examinations conducted under the provisions of regulation 22 of the Pest Control Regulations and the Third Schedule to those Regulations;
(c)a pest controller's licence for buildings and open areas — a person who passed examinations conducted under the provisions of regulation 22 of the Pest Control Regulations, the Second Schedule and the Third Schedule to those Regulations;
(d)a pest controller's licence for fumigation — a person who passed examinations conducted under the provisions of regulation 22 of the Pest Control Regulations and the Fourth Schedule to those Regulations;
(2)as long as Regulations have not been made under section 7(a)(4), but no later than three years from the commencement day, the Registrar may issue a pest controller's licence to an applicant even if the applicant has not received training as referred to in section 7(a)(4), provided that the applicant has passed examinations conducted by the Registrar for the licence applied for, in accordance with the list of examination topics and their format to be published by the Registrar on the Ministry's website and which shall be made available for public inspection at the Ministry's district offices no later than four months from the commencement day; notice of the publication of the list shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette).
(b)As long as Regulations have not been made under section 50 for participation in examinations, a fee shall be paid as detailed below:
(1)for examinations for a residential pest controller's licence, a military pest controller's licence and a special permit as referred to in section 58 — NIS 150;
(2)for examinations for a pest controller's licence for buildings and open areas and a pest controller's licence for fumigation — NIS 300.
(c)A person who received a licence after passing examinations under sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of subsection (a)(1), and who applied to renew the licence, shall have the licence renewed as detailed in those sub-paragraphs, as the case may be, unless the conditions under this Law for obtaining another licence are satisfied.

Transitional Provisions regarding Submission of Application and Fees§

60.
(a)As long as Regulations have not been made under section 7(b), but no later than three years from the commencement day, an application for a pest controller's licence or for its renewal shall be submitted to the Registrar on an application form to be published by the Registrar on the Ministry's website and which shall also be made available to the public at the Ministry's district offices; the application shall be submitted in two copies and all required documents shall be attached thereto.
(b)As long as Regulations have not been made under section 50 for the submission of an application for the grant of a licence or its renewal, a fee shall be paid as detailed below:
(1)for a residential pest controller's licence, a military pest controller's licence and a special permit as referred to in section 58 — NIS 250;
(2)for a pest controller's licence for buildings and open areas and a pest controller's licence for fumigation — NIS 500.

Preservation of Validity of Pest Control Regulations§

61.

The obligations, restrictions and conditions prescribed in regulations 6 to 13 and 14(a) to (c) and (f), 41, 42 and 44 of the Pest Control Regulations shall, with the necessary modifications, be deemed, for the purposes of this Law, including for the purposes of Chapters V and VI, to be obligations, restrictions and conditions applicable to a pest controller and an operator that were prescribed under section 16(a) of this Law, as long as they have not been amended or revoked under this Law, but no later than three years from the commencement day.

First Regulations§

62.

The first Regulations under section 16(a), on the matters detailed therein, shall be made within three years from the commencement day.

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First Schedule (the definition "pests" in Section 2)

In this Schedule —

"building" — a building of any kind, including a residential house, a warehouse and a temporary structure, and also a courtyard attached thereto that is not intended for public use, public sewage systems, vehicles and a storage container;

"settlement area" — buildings and open areas situated in a built-up area habitually used by persons for residence, employment, commerce or leisure, including an open area within a distance of up to 25 metres from the outermost building in that area, as well as areas habitually used by the public for leisure activity, such as recreation parks and parks, even if they are outside the built-up area as aforesaid, and all of this excluding a natural environment.

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