Key Takeaways
- The Australian government has reviewed the use of first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs and SGARs) and recommended stricter labelling and conditions of use for some products.
- The review stopped short of recommending a blanket ban on the products, despite concerns about the risk to native wildlife.
- SGARs are more toxic and are banned from public sale in the United States and parts of Canada, and highly restricted in the European Union.
- The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has proposed a temporary suspension of SGARs while public consultation is underway.
- Animal advocates and experts are calling for a complete ban on SGARs, citing the risk of secondary poisoning to native animals.
Introduction to the Issue
The use of rat poisons in Australia has come under scrutiny due to the risk they pose to native wildlife. A government review has recommended stricter labelling and conditions of use for some products, but has stopped short of recommending a blanket ban. The review found that second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are more toxic and pose a significant risk to native animals, including birds of prey and quolls. Despite this, the review has proposed that SGARs can continue to be sold to consumers, subject to stricter labelling and conditions of use.
The Risks of SGARs
SGARs are widely available in supermarkets and garden stores, and are used to control rat and mouse populations. However, they have been found in dead native animals, including tawny frogmouths, powerful owls, and quolls. The active ingredients in SGARs, including brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, difenacoum, and flocoumafen, are highly toxic and can cause secondary poisoning in animals that eat poisoned rats and mice. This has led to calls from animal advocates and experts for a complete ban on SGARs.
The Review’s Recommendations
The review has recommended the cancellation of some products, including those that come in powder and liquid form, or which do not contain dyes or bittering agents. However, it has proposed that other products, including waxes, pellets, and blocks, can continue to be sold to consumers with stricter labelling and conditions of use. The proposed new instructions include limiting mice baits to indoor use only, placing outdoor rat baits in tamper-proof stations, and changes to pack sizes. The review has also recommended tighter directions for the clean-up and disposal of carcasses and uneaten baits.
Criticism of the Review
Animal advocates and experts have criticized the review for not going far enough in addressing the risks posed by SGARs. Holly Parsons, of BirdLife Australia, said that the review "doesn’t go far enough and crucially, fails to address secondary poisoning that is killing owls and birds of prey". John White, an associate professor of wildlife and conservation biology at Deakin University, said that the authority’s proposed changes failed to properly tackle the problem that SGARs are "just too toxic". He called for a complete ban on SGARs, saying that even with stricter labelling and conditions of use, there is no guarantee that consumers will follow the instructions.
Industry Response
A spokesperson for Woolworths said that the supermarket would await the APVMA’s final recommendations before making any changes to its products. The spokesperson said that Woolworths stocked a small range of SGARs for customers who might have a problem with rats or mice in their home or workplace, but also sold alternative options. Bunnings and Coles declined to comment on the review’s recommendations.
Conclusion
The use of SGARs in Australia poses a significant risk to native wildlife, and the review’s recommendations do not go far enough in addressing this issue. The proposed stricter labelling and conditions of use for some products may help to reduce the risk, but it is unlikely to eliminate it entirely. Animal advocates and experts are calling for a complete ban on SGARs, citing the risk of secondary poisoning to native animals. The APVMA’s final decision on the review’s recommendations is expected after a three-month public consultation period.
