Bromadiolone poison to control mouse plague, rejected

Regulators have refused to permit using bromadiolone poison around the perimeter of crops during the mouse plague. This is why.

The anticoagulant bromadiolone poison has been rejected by the APVMA for use against the mouse plague.

The push to register anticoagulant bromadiolone to help combat the mouse plague in NSW has been rejected.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority announced yesterday it would not grant the NSW Department of Primary Industries with an emergency permit application for the use of bromadiolone.

Last month the NSW Government made an application — along with a public push — for the poison to be made available for perimeter baiting.

However, there has been concern from the public about the risk of killing fish, birds and other animals.

In a statement, APVMA chief executive Lisa Croft said the APVMA is not satisfied that the proposed use of bromadiolone around the perimeter of crops meets the statutory criteria for safety, specifically in relation to residues and the environment.

“Before the APVMA is able to approve any application, we must be certain that it is safe, that it will work, and that it will not prevent our farmers from selling their produce overseas,” Ms Croft said.

“The APVMA’s primary concern is environmental safety, particularly in relation to animals that eat mice.

“Although the APVMA intends to refuse this particular application, we have approved six other emergency permit applications to give farmers extra mice control options.”

Bromadiolone is a second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide and is highly effective after a single feeding.

The NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall previously referred to the poison as like “napalm for mice”.

MORE

FARMERS WARNED AGAINST USING MOUSE BAIT

FARMERS PRAY COLD SNAP WILL END MOUSE PLAGUE