An emergency use permit has been granted to South Australian farmers that will unlock a powerful tool in their battle to protect the state's agriculture sector from mice.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has approved an emergency use application, prepared by Grain Producers Australia (GPA) on behalf of the industry, allowing South Australian grain producers to access double-strength Zinc Phosphide mouse bait (ZnP50).
This will enable grain producers in areas heavily impacted by mice to better control pest rodents damaging their crops, with farmers having raised concerns that the currently approved zinc phosphide product, ZnP25, was less effective at controlling high numbers of mice.
The APVMA's approval of an emergency use permit follows two years of advocacy by the Malinauskas Labor Government and the tireless work of GPA, Grain Producers SA, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), and CSIRO, after GPA's previous ZnP50 emergency use permit expired at the end of 2023.
CSIRO monitoring in recent months has confirmed mouse population increases, with significant increases recorded in the Adelaide Plains and Yorke Peninsula.
Multiple industry applications to access ZnP50 were knocked back by the APVMA since 2023, prompting the Malinauskas Government to prepare an intervention involving an application on behalf of South Australian grain producers to be lodged if the final applications before the regulator were not approved.
The Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development contacted the APVMA in February seeking quick assessments from the regulator of industry applications to facilitate emergency access to ZnP50, warning that mice were at risk of reaching "outbreak levels".
In the same month, Grain Producers SA established a working group with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), GRDC, and CSIRO, working with the Malinauskas Government to coordinate pathways for the industry to access ZnP50.
The APVMA's decision today will deliver significant relief to South Australian grain producers.
Under the conditions of the emergency use permit, ZnP50 can be accessed and used until 15 December 2026. Grain producers will also need to complete a short online training course and meet obligations around reporting baiting details to meet APVMA compliance requirements.
For more information about the emergency use permit and the GPA mouse bait training course, visit grainproducers.com.au/mouse-control.
The APVMA is the independent statutory authority and national regulator responsible for assessing, registering and approving agricultural and veterinary products proposed for supply in Australia.
Any decision by the APVMA to approve or reject an agricultural or veterinary product is made in accordance with national legislation.
As put by Clare Scriven
The Malinauskas Government welcomes the APVMA's decision to finally give South Australian grain producers access to a mouse control agent that we know to be highly effective in preventing outbreaks.
Our Government has been working closely with farmers and industry groups to help them secure access to double-strength zinc phosphide bait, with plans in place to intervene and apply on behalf of industry if their final applications were rejected.
It has been a monumental effort to get to this point, and Grain Producers Australia deserves significant credit for getting their application over the line.
We know how critical it is that South Australian producers are informed and ready to deploy effective controls if pest conditions deteriorate, which is why the Malinauskas Government has long supported safe and regulated access to effective control options when outbreak conditions arise.
The South Australian Government also welcomes industry moves to seek a research permit, building on the CSIRO's extensive work in assessing the effectiveness of double-strength zinc phosphide bait and potentially move grain producers closer to having ongoing access to a well-known, previously used, and highly necessary pest control tool.
As put by GPA Research Development and Extension spokesperson, Andrew Weidemann
Grain Producers Australia has worked hard to secure a national emergency permit on behalf of all grain growers to access stronger bait as significant mouse numbers impact several states.
This is a time-sensitive issue and GPA have been dedicated to working with the APVMA and industry to establish practical permit conditions that balance access to stronger pesticides with safety, environmental and trade considerations.
While grain growers have had ongoing access to 25g/kg zinc phosphide (ZnP25) mouse bait, it's not strong enough to tackle the level of mice issues that we're seeing at the moment, so we are incredibly grateful for this permit for 50g/kg zinc phosphide (ZnP50) that GPA have been able to secure as the applicant with critical support from GRDC and CSIRO.
GPA is mindful that every day is critical when combatting pests like mice which can obviously cause massive crop and financial losses in the absence of adequate management tools, as well as significant psychological stress for farmers and their families.
GPA is also providing vital ongoing support to growers to navigate the permit conditions of accessing ZnP50, via hosting a number of online information sessions and providing information on our website.
As put by National Mouse Management Group member and Eyre Peninsula grain producer, Andrew Polkinghorne
It's very good news that this emergency permit for ZnP50 has been announced, and that Grain Producers Australia, Grain Producers SA, GRDC and state governments have been able to work together to achieve this.
The research that the CSIRO has done certainly backs the need for the ZnP50 and I know there are plenty of farmers, particularly in South Australia and Western Australia, who will be using it as soon as they can in order to protect their crops.
