Toxic Chemical Rejected For Use on Australian Mouse Plague: ABC

(Bloomberg) --

A proposal for emergency use of a highly toxic poison to tackle a mouse plague that’s ravaged crops across Australia has been rejected by the authorities, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s decision to turn down approval for bromadiolone, which has been banned in Australia for broadacre usage, was made on the basis that it may leave residues in the environment that could harm other animals and potentially impact farm exports, the national broacaster said.

The New South Wales state government had applied for an emergency permit for 10,000 liters of the banned substance last month amid a worsening mouse siege that’s resulted in horror scenes of the rodents eating through farmers’ crops, as well as leaving behind droppings in products.

The chemical had already been rolled out for distribution across 20 treatment sites in the worst areas, and hundreds of farmers had applied for usage.

The state government did not comment on whether it will appeal the decision. It said that the authority had approved a range of other emergency permit applications to give farmers further options.

In its own efforts to tackle the plague, the state government said it has made A$150 million ($113 million) available to give farmers 50% rebates on zinc phosphide purchases, run extensive workshops and invest in leading Australian biocontrol research to help control plagues of the future.

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