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Question and Answer Tracking Details

2724 - Agriculture - USE OF SECOND-GENERATION ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDES IN NSW

Rath, Chris to the Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional New South Wales, and Minister for Western New South Wales
USE OF SECOND-GENERATION ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDES IN NSW

(1) Is New South Wales looking to ban or limit the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGAR)?

(2) The Sydney Morning Herald article "Common product banned around the world is killing our owls" states that "SGAR poisons are so toxic that they survive even after an animal is killed and can kill birds or animals that eat the dead rodent or possum". How is the Government working with communities to ensure the protection of native wildlife from second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides?

(3) Has NSW Environment and Heritage or Environmental Protection Authority conducted studies, investigations, or reviews on the impacts of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides on the native animal population?

(4) Are there any education programs in place about the risks of using second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides and their impacts on native wildlife?

(5) Is the Government currently supporting agricultural areas using second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides to ensure they help protect native wildlife?
Answer -
USE OF SECOND-GENERATION ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDES IN NSW

(1) NSW Government agencies work closely with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) on a range of vertebrate pesticide issues and will consider the outcomes of the APVMA review of rodenticides in relation to their ongoing use and/or changes to use pattern.

(2) All vertebrate pesticides are subject to label and other conditions that specify use patterns to minimise non-target impacts. In NSW, some vertebrate pesticides (e.g. 1080) are only available to private landholders via Local Land Services.

Anticoagulant rodenticides that are available to the public, through hardware stores and supermarkets, all carry APVMA approved labels providing instructions for safe use of the product including protection of humans, domestic pets and off-target animals.

In November 2021, the APVMA published a notice at the commencement of their review of anticoagulant rodenticide products and their uses. The review includes consideration of environmental safety, including primary and secondary poisoning of non-target domestic animals and wildlife. A preliminary decision will be published for public consultation in early 2025, and a final regulatory decision is expected by mid-2025.

(3) This is a matter for the Minister for Environment and Heritage.

(4) The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (the Department) offers chemical training, under the SMARTtrain program, which is compliant with the Pesticides Regulation 2017, through Tocal College. This training teaches participants how to read and understand chemical labels, follow the instructions, and apply chemicals safely in their situation. In 2022, the Department published the NSW Code of practice and standard operating procedures for the effective and humane management of rodents. The Code provides information and guidance to government agencies, land managers and pest animal controllers around the best practice use of rodenticides including SGAR and includes information on managing risks to non-target animals.

(5) SGARs are available to farmers for use around buildings only, in the same way that they are available to the general public. The only rodenticide available for broadacre crop protection is zinc phosphide, which is considered to have minimal non-target risks when used according to label conditions.

Question asked on 16 September 2024 (session 58-1) and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 339
Answer received on 8 October 2024 and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 354

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.