The market for disinfection, disinsectisation, rodent control - France (2024)

1.2 Global market

The global pest control market was valued at $**.* billion in ****. It is expected to exceed $** billion within ** years, growing at a CAGR of *.*%.

Global pest control market size projections World, **** - ****, in $ billions Source: ****

The growth of the global pest control market is mainly due to the increasing urban population and rapid migration from rural areas to urban centers, particularly in developing countries such as India. These factors have led to an increase in population density in urban areas, creating conditions conducive to the proliferation of pests such as rodents, cockroaches and mosquitoes. Demand for pest control products and services is also driven by growing concern for health and hygiene in the residential and commercial sectors, and by the rising prevalence of pest-borne diseases. However, the health and environmental risks associated with the use of chemical pesticides could curb market growth in the future.

A small number of companies hold the bulk of this market, including :

Anticimex (***) ; BASF SE (***) ; Bayer AG (***); Clean Kill Environmental Services Ltd (***); Dodson Pest Control Inc (***); Ecolab (***) ; FMC Corporation (***) ; JG Pest Control (***) ; Rolllins Inc (***) ; Syngenta AG (***) ; Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd (***).

These are large international groups, sometimes specialized in pest control activities (***). There are no French groups among ...

1.3 French market

The French disinfection, disinsectisation and deratting market is identified by NAF code **.**A, so we can calculate the size of this market. To do this, we take the market's sales in **** (***) and multiply them by the annual sales indices to find out the sales for each year.

Size of the French disinfection, pest control and rodent control market France, **** - ****, in € millions Source: ****

This market, estimated at €***.* million in ****, is undoubtedly booming. It is a highly fragmented market, comprising *,*** to *,*** companies[***]. As explained in *.*, rapid urbanization and migration from rural to urban areas encourage the proliferation of pests. In addition, increasingly frequent public health crises contribute to its positive dynamics. For example, rat problems in major French cities such as Paris are forcing city councils to launch numerous deratting campaigns, calling in specialists from the sector. in autumn ****, France is exposed to a wave of bedbugs, bringing a new acceleration to this market.

Sales index for the disinfection, pest control and rodent control sector France, **-**** - **-****, as % of sales Source: ****

There is a slight upward trend at the start of ****, but as the bedbug crisis is more likely to occur in September, we don't yet have the data needed ...

2.1 The French and pests

In August ****, IPSOS carried out a survey for the Badbugs.fr website on a sample of *,*** respondents. We're going to use the results of this survey to find out how the French deal with pests.

Pests are a major problem that has been growing steadily for many years. In ****, **% of French people said they had had to deal with pests in the last five years. The graph below shows the year(***) in which these respondents were affected by pests.

In which year did you have to deal with pests? France, **** - ****, in Source: ****

We can see that pest attacks increase over time. From January to July ****, **% of French people were already confronted with pests. And all pests are on the increase. The pests in question are shown in the graph below.

Which pest did you have to deal with? France, **** - ****, in Source: ****

Mice slightly dominate, ahead of hornets' and wasps' nests. Next come rats, cockroaches, fleas, then bedbugs. However, trends evolve rapidly, and by **** rats had replaced mice as the pest species generating the most interventions (***).

All regions of France are concerned.

Source: ****

The South-East is the region most exposed to pests, with **% of respondents coming from this region. However, ...

2.2 Pest control operations increasingly in demand

In ****, rat removal operations increased by **% to *.* million, a sign of the proliferation of rodents[***]. Rats are the most common species, far ahead of mice and weasels. The number of interventions against rodents in **** is greater than all other interventions against the different types of pests combined.

Number of interventions by pest category France, ****, in thousands Source: ****

The number of rodents is increasing, and they are beginning to move closer to city centers in search of food. Human intervention is needed to control their proliferation. A pair of rats can give birth to up to ** offspring a year. The main risk posed by these rodents lies in the germs they carry. Biting is not the main mode of transmission between rats and humans; it is mainly their urine that is contaminating[***].

The proliferation of rodents can be attributed to the post-Covid era. Indeed, the French are spending more time outdoors since the end of confinement, particularly in public places. In addition, the development of street food and the increasing pedestrianization of streets are encouraging the development of outdoor activities. These new practices are accompanied by an ever-increasing number of incivilities involving the throwing of waste directly into the street, without even ...

2.3 Bedbugs, the new scourge

After a notable disappearance in the ****s, bedbugs are experiencing a resurgence in France, mainly due to international travel and their increased resistance to insecticides. According to a report published in July **** by the Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (***), **% of French households were invaded by these parasites between **** and ****, regardless of their social background[***].

Bed bugs, visible to the naked eye with dimensions similar to an apple seed, are generally brown in color. They cannot jump or fly. These insects feed on human blood and can survive for several months without feeding. They are capable of making up to ** bites in a single night, sometimes causing unbearable itching. They have a rapid life cycle, which makes rapid intervention crucial in the event of infestation to limit their spread. At the end of September ****, many cases of bedbug infestations were reported, even if not always proven, and Google searches associated with the theme "Bedbug" soared.

Frequency of searches for "Punaise de lit" on Google France, **-**** - **-****, in frequency Source: ****

The peak in search frequency was reached on September **, and has remained high ever since.

Search frequencies by region France, **-**** - **-****, ...

2.4 Hornets, wasps, mosquitoes: summer's great enemies

Wasps and hornets:

In ****, there were almost ***,*** interventions against wasps and hornets, making them the *ᵉ most combated pest species after rats and bedbugs (***)[***].

The high presence of wasps and hornets in summer can be explained by rising temperatures and the biological cycles of these species. In spring, the queen builds her nest and raises her brood. The population then gradually expands until summer, when it multiplies. As the number of workers increases, they set off in search of food to feed their larvae, which explains why these species are particularly present in summer. However, they are not all interested in the same types of food. Wasps seek out meaty, protein-rich foods, while Asian hornets feed on spiders and insects[***].

Although these species don't always nest directly in dwellings, they are particularly present in summer, especially at mealtimes. As a result, homeowners often have repellent sprays, creams and other homemade traps to protect themselves. Even if these species are not extremely dangerous, they do represent a danger for allergy sufferers, and can lead to death in the event of grouped attacks and repeated stings. In ** years, there have been *** fatal attacks in France[***]. The majority of victims are elderly, with an average ...

3.1 A growing number of players

The pest control market is divided between several players: companies that individuals call on when they need professional treatment, and players who market products that individuals can buy in supermarkets, specialist stores or on the Internet to use themselves.

NAF code **.**A groups together companies in the pest control sector, so we can access the number of players in the sector by looking at the number of companies registered under this code.

Number of companies in the pest control sector France, **** - ****, in units Source: ****

The number of establishments in the sector has been rising steadily since ****, peaking at *** in **** (***).

Number of employees in the pest control sector France, **** - ****, in units Source: ****

The number of employees logically follows the same trend, numbering *,*** in ****. This increase is logical given the rise in demand following the increase in pest attacks in recent years (***). Establishments in this sector are present throughout France.

Source: ****

However,they are mainly concentrated in the Paris region, which accounts for **% of all establishments. They are also very present in southern regions such as Nouvelle Aquitaine, Auvergne-Rhône Alpes and PACA.

Source: ****

The distribution of employees by region follows the same pattern as that of companies. However, there are ...

3.2 Unionized professions with a strong focus on France

At December **, ****, the Chambre Syndicale had a total of *** members. This breaks down into *** service providers, ** associate members (***), and * members of the canine detection college. In fiscal ****, the Board of Directors accepted ** new memberships, while ** companies chose not to renew their membership[***].

In Europe, product regulation is thought out on a European scale. This is illustrated by the CEPA approach, a European accreditation initiated by the European association of *D service companies. Key accounts in sectors such as food and pharmaceuticals also think on this scale, both in terms of quality procedures and choice of partners. Thus, European certification is very probably the step that will enable the French market to attract large groups in the sector[***].

In ****, all CS*D members were required to obtain European certification, but very few have complied with this decision.

Does your company hold CEPA certification? France, ****, as % of total Source: ****

More than two-thirds of the *** respondents do not hold European certification, indicating that most of their business is concentrated in France. The majority of companies who do not yet have their certification are considering applying for it, or have already done so.

If you don't have your CEPA certification France, ****, in % Source: ****

Bedbugs are ...

3.3 A wide range of professions

The *D (***) market is not confined to the professions of pest control and rodent control. It also includes various other professional roles, such as:

manufacturers ; quality inspectors ; chemists ; hygienist applicators logisticians ; distributors and sales managers; corporate communication specialists.

Hygienic technicians, often referred to as applicators, are responsible for managing pest populations by proposing preventive or curative solutions. Manufacturers or formulators produce pest control solutions, in particular chemical solutions known as"biocides". Distributors supply these solutions, which can be conventional, alternative or connected, and include rodenticides, insecticides and anti-volatile equipment. Finally, trainers in the *D sector provide compulsory and qualifying training to enable operators to carry out their jobs and update their skills. They offer compulsory training leading to certification: the Certibiocide and Certiphyto, but also qualifying training to update operators' skills[***].

Since July *ᵉʳ ****, the Certibiocide is a mandatory certificate for the use and distribution of certain biocidal products, made compulsory by the decree of October *, ****. Issued to an individual, it attests to a certain level of competence, ensuring safer and more effective use and application of products. Biocides, products used to neutralize harmful organisms, represent a danger to human health and the environment, requiring strict regulation. Certibiocide is therefore required for ...

4.1 High processing costs

The average total cost spent by households to get rid of pests was €*** in ****, according to an IPSOS survey for Badbugs.fr. This sum breaks down as follows.

Breakdown of the average total cost of removing pests from your home France, ****, in € Source: ****

Collateral damage includes discarded furniture and damaged objects. Complementary services refer to services such as dog detection or laundry treatment. However, these costs vary according to the type of pest treated.

Total average sums spent to get rid of pests France, ****, in € Source: ****

Bedbugs are by far the most expensive pest to eradicate, followed by rats and cockroaches. In order to reduce these very high costs, some private individuals try to resolve the situation with a purely "home-made" treatment. However, this kind of treatment ends up being more expensive than one carried out by professionals.

Average total amount spent France, ****, in € Source: ****

As a result, individuals who use only "in-house" treatment pay on average **% more than those who avoid "in-house" treatment and use only professionals. In addition, home treatments have very high failure rates.

Failure rates for home treatments France, ****, in Source: ****

Once again, bedbugs top the list. This species of pest is the most feared (***), the most ...

4.2 An unsatisfactory service

According to the same IPSOS survey conducted for Badbugs.fr, it takes an average of *.* months to eradicate a pest from your home. However, there are significant differences depending on the type of treatment used. For example, **% of respondents were able to get rid of the pest in less than a month when they called in a professional, compared with **% when they tried to treat it themselves. conversely, *% of respondents took more than six months to get rid of the pest they were fighting. Dissatisfaction rates with professionals are therefore high: **% on average (***).

Dissatisfaction rate by pest France, ****, in Source: ****

Fleas are therefore the pests whose treatment generates the highest dissatisfaction rate, just ahead of rats and bedbugs. Consumer dissatisfaction can be broken down into different components.

Dissatisfaction rate as a function... France, ****, in Source: ****

Price is the primary dissatisfaction factor. Then it's the company itself that disappoints. Indeed, **% feel they should have chosen another company, and **% say they should have done more research on the company in question. As for the service, **% felt that the treatment was ineffective, **% felt that the protocol lacked seriousness, and **% were afraid that the treatment would be harmful. In terms of support, **% of respondents felt ...

4.3 A wide range of prices, which are likely to take off

There are many different product ranges, so it's difficult to estimate average prices. However, as a guide, the table below summarizes the best-selling products on the Hygiene*D website.

Source: ****

Prices for products used in pest control have begun to rise since the energy crisis at the end of ****, and this increase has been accentuated by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Indeed, Ukraine is a major player in wheat and sunflower oil production, contributing **% and **% of global supply respectively. These two ingredients are essential in the manufacture of many rodent baits. In addition, a significant proportion of the fertilizer needed to grow wheat comes from Russia and Belarus. Consequently, variations in production and supply costs may lead to fluctuations in the price of rodenticide baits this year[***].

Manufacturers and distributors have reported increased costs and reduced speed of movement of materials and products, with the cost of a storage container entering a UK port tripling. Since *ᵉʳ January ****, customs duties have increased by **% for British businesses and consumers. Although specific figures for France are not available, it is likely that French pest control companies will also be affected by these additional costs.

The cost of plastic polymers has similarly risen sharply, with prices reaching ...

4.4 Average prices for professional operations

When "homemade" treatments don't work, which is relatively often the case according to *.*, you need to call in the professionals. The costs of such operations vary enormously, depending on accessibility (***).

5.1 Regulations for industry professionals

CS*D is guided by regulations such as:

the European Biocides Directive, which concerns the marketing of biocides and their use, with the aim of protecting humans, animals and materials against harmful organisms, such as vermin and bacteria, through the action of the active substances present in these products. This regulation aims to optimize the operation of the biocidal products market within the European Union, while ensuring a high level of protection for human health and the environment; aFNOR standard U **-***, which establishes the criteria required for the control of pest control and biocidal product applications by a service provider. It aims to ensure that the supplier has the ability to deliver a service that meets both customer expectations and current regulations; and the European regulation Reach (***), which came into force in ****, is a European legislative scheme designed to secure the manufacture and use of chemical substances in industry within the European Union. It aims to identify, assess and control all chemical substances manufactured, imported or placed on the European market.

These regulations require respect for the environment and continuous quality improvement. The CS*D also promotes the training of its members, particularly hygiene applicators, to meet environmental and regulatory ...

5.2 Obligations for restaurateurs

The Plan de Maîtrise Sanitaire(***) is a compulsory scheme for restaurateurs, designed to guarantee the hygiene and safety of their products against biological, chemical and physical threats, including pests. The program is based on three key pillars:

a prerequisite program, which establishes the initial hygiene measures needed to maintain food safety, as stipulated in Annex I of EC Regulation ***/**** and Annex III of EC Regulation ***/****, specifically for animal foodstuffs or foodstuffs of animal origin; procedures based on the principles of HACCP (***), a hazard analysis and critical control point system developed by NASA in the ****s; a strong emphasis on communication and product traceability.

This plan is governed by the Hygiene Package, a set of European regulations specific to the food sector, which includes :

regulation (***) and the European rapid alert network RASFF; regulation (***) n°***/****, which concerns food hygiene at all stages of production, and requires the implementation of procedures based on HACCP principles; regulation (***) n°***/****, which lays down specific hygiene rules for foodstuffs of animal origin, specifying the obligation of sanitary approval and providing technical specifications; regulation (***) n°***/****, which lays down hygiene requirements for animal feed; regulation (***) ****/***, which governs official controls and other activities to ensure compliance with food and feed ...

6. Segmentation

• Ecolab
• Rentokil Initial
• Elis Groupe
• Avipur
• Anticimex
• JG Pest Control
• Killgerm
• As de Pic
• A3S
• APA
• AC2000
• Eficium
• Anolys
• Tech-Way
• A3DS
• Abioxir
• A2DEF
• Paredes Orapi
• BASF
• Bayer
• Germitec
• Lodi Group
• FC Johnson
• Sodel