What the SGAR regulatory changes actually mean for you
– Article by Nick Jones from Bell Laboratories
By now you’ve heard that the APVMA has overhauled the rules around second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs). There’s been plenty of chatter, some of it accurate, a lot of it not. Here’s a straight rundown of what’s changed, what it means on the job, and why it’s ultimately good news for the industry.
Which products are affected
Just so there’s no confusion: these changes only apply to SGARs. First‑generation anticoagulants and non‑anticoagulant actives like bromethalin and cholecalciferol aren’t affected.
The affected SGAR actives registered in Australia are brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, difethialone and flocoumafen, the five most commonly used rodenticides in professional pest management.
The suspension and the deemed permit: what’s really going on
From 24 March 2026, the APVMA suspended registration of all SGAR products. It sounds dramatic, but it’s not. It’s an interim risk-management step while the broader review continues.
Suspended does not mean banned. You can still use SGARs, but the rules around their use have changed.
Those rules are now governed by a deemed permit issued under section 45B of the Agvet Code. It applies automatically to every SGAR product and overrides whatever the label says. If the label and the permit disagree, the permit wins every time.
Deemed Permit: What you need to follow on the job
- DO NOT place bait stations outdoors for control of mice
- DO NOT use in areas accessible to non targets animals, pets or children unless the bait is secured in a tamper resistant bait station.
- DO NOT place bait outdoors unless it is secured in a tamper resistant and weather resistant bait station that is secured in place.
- DO NOT place bait stations more than 2 metres from buildings.
- DO NOT apply this product directly into burrows.
- DO NOT use the product continuously for more than 35 days without an evaluation of the state of the infestation and the efficacy of the treatment.
Hazardous to wildlife. Search for and dispose of dead rodents and slugs/snails in the infested area at each visit to prevent secondary poisoning. In case slugs/snails are present, move bait station to another location within the rodent infested site, away from slugs/snails.
During the suspension, any SGAR product you receive from Agserv will come with the updated permit instructions. New labels will appear as fresh stock comes through, which may take a little time.
Any SGAR stock you already have in the office, shed or truck must also be used under the new rules, regardless of when you bought it. You’re deemed to have received the permit either way.
The 35 day limit is the one most likely to affect businesses running quarterly or longer maintenance programs. Those setups will need a rethink to stay compliant.
Restricted Chemical Products: Where this is heading
The suspension and permit are an interim step, not the end game. The APVMA’s long-term plan is to classify SGARs as Restricted Chemical Products (RCPs). That still needs approval from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), plus national consultation with states and territories. There’s no exact timeframe, but the expectation is roughly 12 months.
Once a product becomes an RCP, it can only be used by an authorised user. The definition of ‘authorised user’ is still being finalised, but licensed pest management professionals are expected to qualify once the framework is in place.
Why this is a good thing for the pest management industry
For years, the same SGAR actives used in professional rodent programs have been available on retail shelves for anybody to buy, with no requirement for training. That hasn’t helped our case as a genuine professional trade.
Once SGARs become RCPs, that changes. Access to our most effective products will be restricted to authorised, trained operators. That means more service work for professional pest managers, better-designed programs, and a sharper line between what we do and what you can pick up at the hardware store.
Sure, there are some operational tweaks we’ll all need to make. But if you’re already running proper programs, none of this is a big leap. The permit conditions just put structure around what good operators have been doing for years.
We’ve been asking for the industry to be recognised for its expertise. This is that moment.
