The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has announced proposed major changes to the regulation of anticoagulant rodenticide products following a comprehensive risk review. The reforms aim to strengthen protections for people, domestic animals and native wildlife, particularly birds and mammals, by limiting the ways these chemicals can be used.

Among the proposals is a potential suspension of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) while stricter national controls are developed. If implemented, SGAR products could still be available but only under new enforceable instructions and use conditions designed to reduce exposure risks.

The APVMA’s reconsideration also includes a broad suite of restrictions on both first- and second-generation rodenticides, with some specific products proposed for cancellation due to unacceptable risk profiles. These decisions stem from a review covering eight chemical actives across 168 products, informed by more than 1,500 scientific studies.

Public consultation on the proposed decisions is now open and will run until 16 March 2026. Stakeholders and members of the public are encouraged to provide submissions on the scientific evidence and regulatory approach before the final decisions are made.