Australia Restricts Potent Rodenticides to Protect Wildlife

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has decided to classify several second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) as restricted chemical products (RCPs). This decision limits their sale and use to authorized or trained professionals, primarily pest controllers, in response to documented risks to non-target animals. The new restrictions will be implemented over the next year, with interim measures for existing stock.

APVMA Restricts SGARs Due to Wildlife Risks

Following a four-year review of rodenticides, the APVMA recently declared that five chemicals found in SGARs would be designated as RCPs. APVMA Chief Executive Scott Hansen indicated that this classification aims to simplify enforcement, ensuring sales are limited to trained and competent users. This marks the first time in over a decade that the APVMA has certified a chemical as an RCP.

The decision was made due to identified risks to non-target animals, including owls, raptors, endangered Tasmanian devils, quolls, and goannas. Research, some spanning over a decade and including studies led by Dr. Rob Davis from Edith Cowan University, has shown rodenticide residues in these animals. These residues are often at concentrations linked to illness or death, primarily through secondary poisoning (consuming poisoned prey). One source also mentioned associated risks to human health.

The APVMA's classification of SGARs as Restricted Chemical Products aims to ensure sales are limited to trained and competent users, a move made in response to documented risks to non-target animals.

Implementation and Interim Controls

The APVMA's decision was made with advice from state and territory governments, which will collaborate with the federal government to develop necessary legislation and define authorized users over the next 12 months. State and territory regulators, in coordination with the APVMA, will establish the criteria and training required for individuals to purchase these products.

From March 26, the APVMA will suspend the registration of all SGARs for one year. During this interim period, retailers may continue to sell existing stock but must adhere to new requirements. These requirements include:

• Limiting product size and use.
• Providing customers with literature detailing new usage guidelines.
• Instructing customers not to lay baits outdoors.
• Requiring baits to be secured inside tamper-resistant stations.
• Mandating the use of disposable gloves during handling and washing clothes after use.

Experts and Advocates Welcome Restrictions, Some Call for More

Scientists and advocacy groups, including Birdlife Australia, have campaigned for restrictions on SGARs since at least 2020. Dr. Rob Davis and Birdlife Australia CEO Kate Millar welcomed the decision as a significant step for wildlife protection. Tara Finch, manager of the Capes Raptor Centre in Western Australia, also described the recommendation as a positive step for reducing harm to wildlife, while expressing a preference for the complete removal of SGARs. She noted that any application carries the potential for harm to wildlife.

An earlier APVMA finding in December had concluded that SGARs should remain available for over-the-counter sale. Associate Professor John White of Deakin University commented on this earlier stance, suggesting it was increasingly divergent from practices in other countries. Over 280 experts had previously advocated for SGARs to be removed from consumer sale. At that time, the APVMA's review prioritized risk mitigation strategies such as label changes and packaging controls. Experts believed these measures were unlikely to significantly reduce harm, particularly secondary poisoning.

Independent ecologist Dr. Michael Lohr cautioned that allowing professionals to continue using the baits, rather than implementing a complete ban, may not fully resolve the problem of wildlife poisoning, though he anticipated it would contribute to mitigation. Limited and expensive monitoring programs for wildlife exposure are noted, which may lead to an underestimation of the problem's true scale.

Retailers Commit to Compliance Amid Global Shift

Major Australian retailers such as Bunnings, Coles, Woolworths, Mitre 10, and some IGA stores had previously stocked SGARs. Following the APVMA's recent decision, Bunnings and Woolworths confirmed they would comply with the new guidance. Amazon Australia had confirmed it would remove SGARs from its platform, with one source stating Amazon banned them in 2025. Retailers had previously stated they complied with federal regulations and advised customers to follow product instructions.

Globally, countries in Europe, Canada, and the United States have either banned SGARs for general public use or restricted their sale to licensed professionals.

Safer Alternatives for Rodent Control

Suggested alternatives to highly toxic rodenticides include:

• Improved sanitation and waste management.
• Effective trapping in household settings.
• The use of natural-based products or lower-toxicity options such as warfarin.
• Protecting native predators through habitat conservation.

Integrated pest management, which combines various strategies, can effectively reduce reliance on highly toxic poisons.