- What are Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides?: SGARs are effective but highly potent poisons designed to harm mice and rats.
- Why are SGARs a problem?: The main problem with SGARs is secondary poisoning of wildlife.
- What’s changed under the 2026 Rodenticide Regulations?: SGAR rodenticides are suspended for 12 months and have updated label instructions.
- Is rat poison banned in Australia?: SGARs are the only rat poison products currently restricted.
- Can a homeowner still buy SGAR rat poison?: Yes, SGARs are still available for now, though some retailers restrict them.
- Do I need rat pest control?: If you have signs of rats, you may need rat pest control.
- Is professional rodent pest control safer than doing it yourself?: Yes, professionals have safer methods and more experience.
Australia’s national chemical regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), is reviewing the environmental impacts of anticoagulant rodenticides used across Australia as part of its ongoing regulatory review. After examining the scientific evidence, the APVMA have certified that several highly toxic rodenticide products should now be treated as restricted chemical products, with their sale and use being subject to tighter controls.
What are Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides?
Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) are highly potent poisons designed to harm mice and rats. Common active ingredients in SGARs include Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Difenacoum, Difethialone and Foucoumafen. These rodenticides were designed to replace earlier rodent poisons that had become ineffective due to rodent resistance. However, the increased potency of SGARs means that these poisons can stay active in a rodent’s body for a long time.
Why are SGARs a problem?
So, why are SGARs such a problem? Well, one of the main concerns regulators raise with SGAR use is secondary poisoning, where predator animals are poisoned by consuming rodents that have already eaten poisoned bait. Owls, eagles, falcons, kookaburras, domestic pets like cats and dogs, and other native mammals and livestock in Sydney, North Shore, and Northern Beaches can all get poisoned by SGAR-affected rodents. And SGAR toxins can then travel up the food chain, with predators that consume multiple poisoned rodents accumulating more of the toxin over time.
What’s changed under the 2026 Rodenticide Regulations?
Under the new APVMA directive, import and manufacture of SGARs are restricted unless approved. SGAR rodenticides are also suspended for 12 months, and products must follow updated label instructions. Different instructions apply to domestic and commercial environments, however, and we can expect further regulatory changes as part of an ongoing pesticide safety review.
Is rat poison banned in Australia?
No, rat poison is not fully banned in Australia. It’s just the most powerful and harmful rodenticides that have recently been restricted. From March 2026, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) have suspended specific second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides that pose risks to pets and wildlife. New instructions now apply to how people can supply and use these products.
Can a homeowner still buy SGAR rat poison?
Yes, some rodent bait products are still available for homeowners in Australia. However, regulations around specific SGAR rodenticides are quickly tightening. Products that contain the stronger second-generation rodenticides will likely become more restricted as ongoing pesticide safety reviews continue.
You’ll struggle to get SGAR rodenticides at certain retailers across the North Shore, Northern Beaches, and Sydney soon. As early as last year, Amazon announced that it would remove many second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide products from sale on its platform. The hardware chain Bunnings has also committed to removing second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide products from its shelves by the 30th of June 2026, following the APVMA’s recommendation to restrict SGARs. When this happens, Bunnings will be one of the first major Australian retailers to voluntarily remove SGARs from general sale, before any national retail restrictions are introduced.
Do I need rat pest control?
If you have certain persistent signs of a rodent problem, you may need professional rat pest control. These signs include:
- Seeing droppings in cupboards or kitchens
- Hearing scratching noises from the walls or the ceiling
- Noticing chewed food packaging
- Actually seeing rodents during the day
- At-home DIY baiting hasn’t eliminated rodent signs.
Is professional rodent pest control safer than doing it yourself?
Yes. Unlike retailers selling SGARs, at Everest Pest Control, we specialise in safe, non-toxic pest control methods. Our pest control methods are all-natural yet highly effective. Our trained, licensed technicians use secure, trustworthy methods that pose no risk to your pets, family, children, or neighbours. We have access to the baits and treatments you need to keep your home completely rat and pest-free, and we comply with current and new pest control regulations.
Stronger regulations alone won’t eliminate rodenticide poisoning. Still, the APVMA’s new SGAR recommendations go to show that pest control products need to be considered within the picture of the wider ecological systems they affect. Recognising this is an important step forward for us all.
Whether it’s rodent pest control or any other eco-friendly pest control you need, contact Everest Pest Control for natural pest control technicians you can trust. Our team of fully licensed professional exterminators will use safe, effective, non-toxic modern pest control methods to keep you, your residents and pets safe at every step. You are in safe hands with natural pest control methods that meet proper health standards and regulations for every property and the most effective methods for every pest in the Northern Beaches, North Shore, and Sydney.