Rural landholders

The Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 (the MPA) allows for rural landholders, their adult employees and agents, to be authorised to control invasive animals such as wild dogs, dingoes, foxes, rabbits, feral pigs and feral cats using restricted schedule 7 (RS7) poisons.

RS7 poisons for invasive animal control include fluoroacetic acid (1080) and para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP). A list of RS7 poisons can be found in Schedule 1 of the Medicines and Poisons (Poisons and Prohibited Substances) Regulation 2021 (the Poisons Regulation).

Low-risk fluoroacetic acid baits (LRFABs) are baits with a concentration of not more than 0.5 grams of fluoroacetic acid per kilogram of bait (0.05%). LRFABs may be fresh (meat, fruit, grain or vegetables) or APVMA registered manufactured baits (e.g. Doggone, De-K9, Foxoff, De-Fox).

Rural landholders, their employees and agents, dealing (buy, possess, apply, dispose) with RS7 poisons for invasive animal control on their own property, do not require competencies if they only deal with LRFABs. For other RS7 poisons they will require competencies, see Rural landholder competency requirements.

Rural landholder authorisations for RS7 poisons

Rural landholders are authorised to deal with RS7 poisons to control invasive animals using the following options.

1. As an Approved Person

Landholders, their adult employees and agents are authorised as approved persons under Schedule 2 of the Poisons Regulation when they are supplied with LRFABs by a person employed by a local government or state government, who is an authorised officer under the Biosecurity Act 2014 or Nature Conservation Act 1992.

As an Approved Person, the landholder (employee or agent) may possess, apply and dispose of the LRFABs. Landholders who access LRFABs using this option do not need to apply for an approval from Queensland Health.

2. As a general approval holder

Landholders may apply to Queensland Health for a general approval for the following RS7 poisons for invasive animal control:

• fluoroacetic acid (1080) concentrate for the manufacture of LRFABs (learn more about 1080 concentrate)
• fluoroacetic acid (1080) or PAPP capsules for pest ejector devices
• fluoroacetic acid (1080) or PAPP manufactured shelf stable baits
• PAPP lethal paste for use on wild dog or fox leg-hold traps.

To apply, complete and submit the General approval – landholder application form  (RTF 1279 kB). Applications require supporting information including maps, evidence of competencies and rates notices.

Strychnine is no longer available for invasive animal control. This is due to the scheduled expiry of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) permit PER14004 on the 30 June 2024.

Manufactured LRFABs

Landholders who are seeking an authority only for APVMA registered manufactured LRFABs may seek to use a more streamlined application process.

To apply, complete and submit the Application for general approval - Manufactured low-risk fluoroacetic acid baits (RTF 1068 kB). Applications require supporting information including driver’s licence and recent rates notice.

1080 concentrate

Rural landholders will only be authorised to buy and use 1080 concentrate (to manufacture LRFABs) in limited circumstances as follows:

• the land they intend to apply the LRFABs on is in a remote regional area where the supply of baiting services and baiting products by the local Council is not available
• the council provides written confirmation that it does not provide baiting services in the Local Government Area
• the landholder, including their employees or agents, dealing with the poison, has completed the full set of competencies listed in the Landholder competency requirements.

Landholder competency requirements

Landholders do not need competencies to deal with or apply for approvals for LRFABs.

The following competencies are required for landholders applying for 1080/PAPP pest ejector device capsules, PAPP manufactured baits or PAPP lethal paste:

• AHCCHM304 – Transport and store chemicals; and
• AHCCHM307 – Prepare and apply chemicals to control pest, weeds and diseases.

In addition, landholders applying for 1080 concentrate require the competency:

• AHCPMG312 – Apply poison baits for vertebrate pest control in rural and environmental landscapes.

Visit Business Queensland's Registered training organisations for commercial operator's licence qualifications for a list of registered training organisations that deliver these competencies.

Commercial baiting operators undertaking invasive animal control for rural landholders

Rural landholders may engage a Commercial baiting operator (CBO) to control invasive animals using RS7 poisons on their property. Depending on the type of authority held, a CBO may undertake the following activities:

• buy, possess, apply and dispose of RS7 poisons on a landholder’s property. The landholder does not require an authority if the CBO carries out all dealings with the RS7 poison.
• manufacture and supply (sell) LRFABs to landholders to apply on their property. If a landholder buys LRFABs from a CBO and stores, applies or disposes of the RS7 poison, they must obtain an approval from Queensland Health before undertaking the dealings.
• Supply (sell) RS7 poisons (other than LRFABs) to landholders to apply on their property. If a landholder buys and deals with RS7 poisons from a CBO, they must obtain an approval from Queensland Health before undertaking the dealings.

For more information about CBOs go to Commercial baiting operators (CBOs).

Contacts

Queries about landholders using RS7 poisons for invasive animal control can be directed to the Environmental Hazards Unit by email at environmentalhazards@health.qld.gov.au