Rodenticide changes in Australia 2026: What the APVMA SGAR suspension means for you

Anyone using rat and mouse baits on their property, in their sheds, or around their grain storage should be aware of a significant regulatory change recently enacted in Australia: the suspension of over 160 rodenticide products by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). 

As of 24 March 2026, the supply and use of some of the most common baits in agricultural and domestic settings, those containing second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (or SGARs), have been heavily restricted. 

For farmers and rural property managers in particular, understanding what has changed and which products are still available is critical, both for compliance and the maintenance of an effective rodent control program. We’re digging into exactly what the APVMA has changed and why, and which products are still available to use without restrictions in 2026.

Key changes at a glance

• Five key SGARs found in Australian rodenticides have been suspended for one year by the APVMA, as of 24 March 2026.
• The suspension is not a full ban, but rather, requires APVMA documentation to be issued alongside the sale of existing SGAR products. 
• The APVMA has dictated a list of enforceable conditions for the suspended SGAR products that must be followed by all users and override any conditions on the relevant product label.
• Manufacturers like PCT International are in the process of working with the APVMA and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to ensure their label directions are compliant with the new restrictions.
• Coumatetralyl, a first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide, now serves as the most effective, compliant, and straightforward replacement for producers previously reliant on SGARs.

What are second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides? 

Anticoagulants are a class of rodenticides that work by preventing blood from clotting, causing rodents to die from internal bleeding between five and 10 days of consuming a lethal dose. This delayed action is deliberate; rodents don’t associate the bait with illness, so they continue to feed on it, which leads to reliable knockdown across a population.

These products come in two generations:

• First-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, known as FGARs, require rodents to ingest the bait multiple times over several days to reach a lethal dose.
• Second-generation products are far more potent. A single day’s feeding can deliver an eventually fatal dose, and the poison also persists in the rodent’s bodily tissues at high levels for an extended period after death.

Which SGARs are suspended in Australia?

There are five SGAR active ingredients registered in Australia that are now subject to suspension per the APVMA. They are: 

• Brodifacoum
• Bromadiolone
• Difenacoum
• Difethialone
• Flocoumafen

These active ingredients are found in many of the most popular rodenticides on the Australian market, including block baits, grain baits, pellets, and pastes for agricultural, commercial, and domestic purposes.

Why did the APVMA suspend SGAR rodenticides?

The APVMA’s decision to suspend SGAR rodenticides for one year came following a multi-year review process, one that began with a formal notice in November 2021 and escalated to an extensive scientific assessment over more than four years. The review examined the risks that SGARs pose not only to target rodents, but to the broader environment, including native wildlife, pets, and livestock.

The main concern here is secondary poisoning. Because SGAR compounds persist in rodent tissue at high concentrations, and because a poisoned rodent may continue feeding for five to 10 days before death from SGAR exposure, the chemical residue that accumulates within a rodent’s body can reach substantial levels. Predators that consume rodent carcasses — such as owls, eagles, kestrels, goannas, and quolls — can then receive a lethal or sublethal dose without actually coming into contact with an SGAR bait.

Of 696 incidents recorded in Australia’s national wildlife health system between 2006 and 2021, 77 (11%) involved suspected poisoning from anticoagulant rodenticides, according to the APVMA.

Why are only SGARs affected by the suspension?

The APVMA’s Anticoagulant Rodenticides Review Technical Report, published in the APVMA Special Gazette of 16 December 2025, confirmed significant findings regarding relative toxicity from SGARs. Studies listed in the report proved four out of the five compounds listed above were highly toxic to birds, while bromadiolone (the one outlier) showed moderate toxicity.

Critically, the report also showed that first-generation anticoagulants do not pose the same risks. Studies that tested FGARs coumatetralyl and diphacinone indicated that avian death from consuming poisoned animals is unlikely, whereas secondary poisoning from SGAR-affected prey is well-documented.

What are the new SGAR rules enacted by the APVMA? 

On 10 March 2026, the APVMA published its decision to suspend SGARs in Gazette No. 5, certifying that it is in the public interest for SGAR products to be declared Restricted Chemical Products (RCPs). This classification, when finalised, will limit their purchase and use to licensed and authorised individuals. The one-year suspension from 24 March 2026 is an interim step to introduce stricter controls quickly while the broader RCP declaration process is progressed through the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the relevant state and territory authorities.

Importantly, this suspension is not a full ban. Existing stocks of SGAR products can still be used and sold, but only in accordance with the enforceable new conditions published in Gazette No. 5. As confirmed by PCT International (manufacturer of Surefire and other related products) in their March 2026 customer advisory, products may be supplied during the suspension period, but must be accompanied by a copy of the APVMA permit conditions at the time of supply. 

These conditions will override whatever is listed on the product label. Where the permit and the label conflict, the permit takes precedence. Any use outside the conditions set by the APVMA is illegal.

Key enforceable conditions for SGAR products under APVMA restrictions

The enforceable conditions for SGAR commercial products under the APVMA’s deemed permit are as follows: 

• Do not place bait stations outdoors to control mice.
• Do not use in areas accessible to non-target animals, pets, or children unless secured in a tamper-resistant bait station.
• Do not place bait outdoors unless it is secured in a tamper-resistant, weather-resistant bait station that is secured in place.
• Do not place bait stations more than 2 metres from buildings.
• Do not apply products directly into burrows.
• Do not use products continuously for more than 35 days without evaluating the infestation status and the treatment’s efficacy.
• Search for and dispose of dead rodents in the infested area at each visit to prevent secondary poisoning.
• Wear disposable gloves when handling bait, bait stations, or rodent carcasses.
• Wash clothes after performing re-handling activities.

Domestic products face additional restrictions and cannot be used outdoors at all. When retailers supply SGAR products, they must provide customers with a copy of the new conditions at the point of sale. These conditions also apply to any existing stock you’re already holding, not just purchases made after 24 March 2026.

For farmers managing rodent pressure in broad areas around grain storage, machinery sheds, hay sheds, or in fields, the restrictions on outdoor placement are the most significant practical restraints to keep in mind. Due to these changes, open-paddock baiting with SGAR products is no longer a compliant option.

Which rodenticides are restricted in Australia?

All products containing one of the five chemical compounds governed by the APVMA ruling — brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, difethialone, and flocoumafen — are now restricted for use in Australia, and must only be issued alongside the APVMA permit conditions. 

PCT International, one of Australia’s largest rodenticide manufacturers, confirmed in their March 2026 customer advisory which of their products are subject to the suspension. They are: 

• All Weather PCT First Formula Blocks Rodenticide.
• All Weather PCT Pro Formula Blocks Rodenticide.
• Surefire All Weather Blocks Rodenticide.
• Surefire Pellets Rodenticide.
• Surefire Broma Blocks, Pellets, Grain Bait and Liquid Rodenticide.
• Surefire Difenate All Weather Blocks Rodenticide.

Each of these products can only be used under the deemed permit conditions described above. PCT International also stated that Surefire Couma All Weather Blocks Rodenticide, which is formulated with FGAR coumatetralyl, is not affected by the suspension. It remains fully available under its existing label conditions.

Prior to purchasing or using any rodenticide in Australia, confirm whether it contains one of the restricted SGARs to ensure you do not contravene any of the imposed conditions.

What happens next for SGARs in Australia?

From 24 March 2026, affected SGAR manufacturers have 12 months to either submit compliant label directions to the APVMA, or cancel their product registrations. PCT International, for example, has confirmed they are working closely with the APVMA, DAFF, and state authorities to confirm ongoing compliance.

On the broader regulatory front, the APVMA has certified that SGAR products should be declared RCPs, which would require mandatory training for prospective users. As this classification decision falls under DAFF and therefore, must be implemented by individual states and territories, specific training requirements are yet to be determined. PCT International has advised its customers that the structure and requirements of this training will take between 6 to 12 months to be released on a state-by-state basis.

For now, the suspension and its associated permit conditions are law. Farmers and property managers should plan their rodent control programs around what is available and compliant today, not what may or may not be compliant down the track.

Which rodenticides are still legal to use in Australia?

As we’ve noted, first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are not subject to the APVMA suspension. Products containing coumatetralyl, warfarin, and diphacinone remain fully registered and available for use under existing label conditions. 

While the APVMA’s broader reconsideration of rodenticides does cover FGARs, and proposed label variations are a part of this process, these variations are intended to update quality assurance standards rather than restrict use. Simply put, there’s no indication that FGAR use will be cancelled or suspended, so these products are safe for ongoing consumer use. 

Coumatetralyl: The best choice for producers

For agricultural producers, coumatetralyl-based products are both compliant and effective for rodent control in and around farm buildings, offering a straightforward replacement for SGARs. 

Coumatetralyl works through the same anticoagulant mechanism as SGARs, disrupting blood clotting and causing internal bleeding, but it requires rodents to be fed multiple times over days to reach a lethal dose. Critically, it’s also metabolised much faster in the rodent’s body. Dead rodents carry significantly lower residue levels as a result, which substantially reduces the risk of secondary poisoning to wildlife, dogs, cats, and other animals that may scavenge on carcasses.

Most producers using coumatetralyl products can expect kill times of 3 to 8 days, comparable to SGAR performance, but with a considerably lower risk profile for non-target animals.

Finding the right coumatetralyl-based rodenticides at Specialist Sales

Specialist Sales stocks a range of coumatetralyl-based rodenticide products that are fully registered, unaffected by the APVMA suspension, and well-suited to the demands of agricultural and rural property management. These recommendations are FGARs proposed to be varied and affirmed by the APVMA review, not cancelled or suspended, according to the APVMA’s Special Gazette on 16 December 2025. 

Racumin Rat and Mouse Blocks

• Wax block formulation containing coumatetralyl
• Weather-resistant and durable in damp or humid conditions, thanks to the wax carrier
• Ideal for use in grain sheds, hay storage, and farm buildings where moisture is present
• Can be nailed, wired, or secured on rods within bait stations to keep them inaccessible to non-target animals
• Suitable for use in and around farm buildings, dairies, commercial premises, and domestic structures

Racumin Rat and Mouse Paste

• Comes in individual edible sachets
• Ready-to-use format requires no handling of loose bait
• Highly palatable to rats and mice, combining vegetable fats and carbohydrates in a formulation that consistently drives high bait acceptable
• Suits areas where loose grain bait is impractical, such as wall cavities, tight spaces within machinery, and anywhere spillage is a concern

Racumin 8 Rat and Mouse Rodenticide

• Concentrated coumatetralyl powder
• Applied as a tracking powder along rodent runways, burrow entrances, and areas of known activity and ingested by rodents when cleaning the powder from their feet
• Alternatively, can be mixed with cereal grain, fruit, or other bait materials to create a custom dry-bait formulation tailored to the food sources rodents find attractive
• Approved by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) for use in non-product areas of export meat establishments

Surefire Couma All Weather Blocks

• High-palatability wax-block baits containing coumatetralyl
• Delivers excellent performance in damp and humid environments
• Particularly suited to outdoor bait stations, grain storage areas, and agricultural buildings
• Carries a unique registration for macadamia, sugar cane, and pineapple crops, as well as dairies and meatworks
• Multi-feed mode of action avoids bait shyness
• Includes a human-taste deterrent (denatonium benzoate)

How to use rodenticides correctly on farm

While coumatetralyl products are not subject to any new APVMA restrictions, all rodenticides must be utilised responsibly to minimise risk to non-target animals and comply with registered label conditions. 

Here’s what we recommend to ensure safe, effective use. 

• Always use bait stations: Bait stations are the single-most effective way to reduce non-target risk to animals, children, and livestock. They secure the bait, limit access to target-sized animals, and protect bait from the weather. We stock a range of tamper-resistant bait stations suited to block, grain, and pellet baits.

• Eliminate alternative food sources: Rodenticide programs perform significantly better when competing food sources are reduced. Secure grain storage, clean up spilt feed, and remove accessible food debris before placing down a bait. Rodents with abundant alternatives will consume bait slowly and inconsistently, which extends the time to knockdown.

• Bait for at least two weeks: A minimum two-week baiting period is necessary to effectively reduce rodent numbers in an established infestation. During this time, inspect bait stations regularly and replenish bait when consumed. Space stations no more than 3 metres apart for mice control, and no more than 9 metres apart for rats.

• Collect and dispose of dead rodents: Even when using lower-secondary-poisoning-risk products like coumatetralyl, the responsible practice is to regularly search for and dispose of dead rodents. This reduces risk to farm dogs, working cats, and native predators. Dispose of dead rodents and unused bait in accordance with your state or territory government regulations. Always wear disposable gloves when handling carcasses and bait.

• Keep livestock, pets, and children away from bait areas: All rodenticide products carry label restrictions mandating livestock, domestic animals, and children be kept away from baited areas while bait is present. Do not graze or allow stock to feed in treated areas during a baiting program.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still use the SGAR products I already have in my shed?

Yes, but only under the APVMA’s deemed permit conditions, which override the product label. For commercial agricultural use, these conditions are: 

• Outdoor placement requires a tamper-resistant, weather-resistant bait station fixed in place
• Bait stations must be within 2 metres of a building
• Baiting cannot continue for more than 35 days without reassessing the infestation
• Outdoor mouse control is no longer permitted

Your product supplier should’ve provided a copy of the APVMA’s conditions at the time of purchase. If not, they are available on the APVMA website.

Are first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides as effective as SGARs?

Coumatetralyl is a well-established and effective anticoagulant rodenticide. Its multi-feed mechanism means it will take longer for a lethal dose to accumulate, but these products still boast kill times of 3 to 8 days in practice, which is comparable to many SGAR products. The key difference is a significantly lower risk of secondary poisoning, confirmed by the APVMA’s recent toxicology reviews. 

Will SGAR products be cancelled entirely in Australia? 

Not necessarily, and certainly not immediately. The current APVMA suspension runs for 12 months as of 24 March 2026. During this period, manufacturers can submit new label directions to the APVMA to comply with the updated requirements. If accepted, those products could return, just under stricter conditions. 

The longer-term outcome will depend on whether the DAFF accepts the APVMA’s RCP certification, and on how each state implements training and licensing requirements.

Do these changes affect zinc phosphide or other non-anticoagulant rodenticides?

No, zinc phosphide and non-anticoagulant rodenticides are not affected by the APVMA’s 2026 suspension — it only applies to products containing the five SGAR active ingredients we’ve listed. First-generation anticoagulants are also not covered by the suspension, and existing label conditions will continue to apply.

The APVMA’s March 2026 changes to SGAR use represent the most significant shift in rodenticide regulation in Australia in many years. The impacts for farms, rural properties, and agribusinesses are very real, and producers must keep up with compliance requirements by reviewing their rodent control programs and updating products.

Specialist Sales stocks a variety of APVMA-compliant first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide products, including the full Racumin range and Surefire Couma All Weather Blocks. These proven, registered coumatetralyl-based products are unaffected by the suspension and are well-suited to the demands of Australian farms. If you’re unsure which product suits your situation, or need advice on bait stations and application strategies, our expert team is here to help.