Chemical industry news

SGARs are referred to as ‘single-dose anticoagulants’. A lethal dose can be ingested in a single feeding, making SGARs substantially more potent than first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs).

SGARs are slower to break down than FGARs and pose a higher risk of secondary poisoning to non-target animals.

There are 5 SGAR active constituents currently registered for use in Australia:

• Brodifacoum
• Bromadiolone
• Difethialone
• Difenacoum
• Flocoumafen

Further information about rodenticides and product names (APVMA website)

Yes. People buying SGAR products will be supplied with a physical copy of the new instructions at the retailer.

Yes, during the suspension period SGARs can still be used on farms if the new instructions and limitations outlined for the particular product used are followed.

There are still first-generation rodenticides available and other means of controlling rodents such as traps and removing clutter, food scraps, nesting sites or shelters.

Commercial pest controllers can also be used, although they will be subject to new rules too for SGARs.

Over the next 12 months Victoria will work with the APVMA and other governments to update regulations declaring SGARs as a restricted chemical product, and determine appropriate licensing and competency requirements for their future use.

When SGARs are declared as a restricted chemical product there will be tighter controls on their purchase and use, including restricting access to individuals who meet specific training and licensing requirements.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the Australian Government regulator of agricultural and veterinary chemical products. It has been undertaking a review of anticoagulant rodenticides.

The reason for the changes is that the APVMA review found that the current use of SGAR products presents an unacceptable risk to non-target animals, including native wildlife.

SGARs have higher toxicity and a longer half-life in animal tissues than other rodenticides, with the potential to accumulate from multiple doses and cause secondary poisoning to native birds, mammals and reptiles, pets and livestock.

• APVMA certifies that second generation anticoagulant rodenticides should be restricted chemical products (APVMA website)
• Rodenticides (APVMA website)

Supplementary feeding of livestock is common, especially in times of drought. It helps provide nutrition, especially in summer and winter when pasture feed is low.

Grape marc, citrus pulp, fruit and olive pomace, and other cannery wastes are lower-cost options. They can be alternatives to hay and grain. However, pesticides used in their production or storage can increase the risk of contaminating livestock products.

Some agricultural chemicals for horticulture and broadacre cropping are not approved for stock foods. The use of treated crops for stock food is prohibited by warning statements and withholding periods (WHPs) on their labels. These statements are legally enforceable.

Residue violations in livestock products are rare. However, even one incident can disrupt export marketing and harm consumer confidence. There is also growing community demand for reduced residues in food.

Before feeding livestock a novel stock food, check for potential residue issues. Livestock producers should ask suppliers for vendor declarations. These make sure chemicals are used properly and that the stock food is safe to eat.

There are 3 types of vendor declarations for different situations:

• Commodity vendor declarations for primary feeds like grain
• Fodder vendor declarations for hay and silage
• By-product vendor declarations for novel stock foods, often from waste products (e.g. pomace or grape marc)

Producers can look at the chemicals in vendor declarations to check their residue risk. You can find useful information from chemical resellers, hay and grain traders and chemical manufacturers’ websites. Chemical labels are available in the PUBCRIS database on the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website.

You can find vendor declarations on Meat & Livestock Australia’s website. It also lists Safemeat risk assessments for 17 types of stock foods.

On 8 April 2025, Agriculture Victoria ran a professional development day for participants. The day focused on the course ‘Minimising risks in the use of 1080 and PAPP bait products for vertebrate pest control’.

The day included a detailed review of the rules for using 1080 and PAPP baits. It provided key information about reducing the risks of using 1080 and PAPP.

Participants discussed current issues related to these products, including:

• environmental impacts
• public safety
• ethical concerns in pest control.

Agriculture Victoria provided updates on the laws and regulations to help participants. The legal aspects of using 1080 and PAPP were also clarified.

Participants also learned about:

• the purchase, transportation and storage of bait products
• effective preparation and planning of baiting programs
• risk assessments and management
• post-baiting requirements
• record-keeping and incident reporting.

A highlight of the day was the outdoor demonstration session. These hands-on sessions helped participants see how to use the bait products and devices. Participants tried the feral pig bait device and the canid pest ejector designed for wild dogs and foxes. These practical sessions helped participants better understand how to apply what they learned in the classroom.

Participants gave positive feedback about the event. Many said it helped them feel more confident in their knowledge and teaching.

For future events, email us at chemical.standards@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has been granted reaccreditation to the ‘22516VIC Course in Minimising Risks in the Use of 1080 & PAPP Bait Products for Vertebrate Pest Control’. This reaccreditation is for a 5-year period starting from 1 July 2024 until 30 June 2029.

People handling or using 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) or PAPP (4-aminopropiophenone) pest animal bait products for vertebrate pest control in Victoria must complete the “1080 and PAPP training course”.

This course aims to train participants on:

• safe bait use,
• purchasing and handling,
• and legal requirements.

It is mandatory for bait users to complete this course if they intend to use 1080 or PAPP. Anyone handling or using 1080 or PAPP bait products must hold or operate under an endorsed permit or licence. Successful completion of this training course allows relevant license/permit holders to apply for the '1080 and PAPP' endorsement.

Find out more about 1080 and PAPP use in Victoria

On 7 August 2024, Agriculture Victoria ran a professional development day for trainers. The day focused on the course "Minimising risks in the use of 1080 and PAPP bait products for vertebrate pest control."

The training day included a detailed review of the rules for using 1080 and PAPP baits. The session provided key information about reducing the risks of using 1080 and PAPP.

Participants discussed current issues related to these products, including:

• environmental impacts
• public safety
• ethical concerns in pest control.

Agriculture Victoria provided updates on the laws and regulations to help trainers. The legal aspects of using 1080 and PAPP were also clarified.

A highlight of the training day was the outdoor demonstrations. The demonstrations gave trainers practical experience with the bait products. Trainers got to see best practice in action. This helped reinforce the theoretical knowledge gained on the day.

The Department plans to hold another training day later in the year. To attend future events, email us at chemical.standards@agriculture.vic.gov.au.