What are vertebrate toxic agents (VTAs)?
VTAs are products used to kill or control vertebrate pests such as rabbits and possums. VTAs must be registered before they can be:
- imported
- manufactured
- sold
- used.
Products must comply with any registration conditions.
Find out about the authorisation of VTAs
We are reassessing VTAs that contain brodifacoum
New Zealand Food Safety has proposed to reassess all registered VTA products containing the active ingredient brodifacoum.
Brodifacoum is an anticoagulant and works by reducing the ability of blood to clot.
The purpose of the proposed reassessment is to re-evaluate:
- the approved label information
- use patterns
- regulatory controls for these products.
The aim is to ensure these products are used responsibly. We also want to minimise the chances of them getting into the food chain.
This reassessment is being done under section 29 of the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act (ACVM) 1997.
Section 29 of the ACVM Act 1997 – NZ Legislation
What we have done so far
We began the work in 2019. We reviewed the conditions of VTA registration and spoke to VTA registrants and others.
On 11 June 2020, we formally approved the process for the proposed reassessment of brodifacoum.
In 2021, we held our first public consultation. We asked for feedback on a proposal to restrict the sale and use of brodifacoum as a VTA.
Find out about the 2021 consultation and the submissions we received
After reviewing the feedback, we refined the proposed changes.
New Zealand Food Safety then held another public consultation from 30 October 2023 to 26 January 2024.
We expect to release a summary of submissions for the second consultation in August 2024.
What we are proposing
New Zealand Food Safety proposes to amend the regulatory controls covering the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of brodifacoum. Proposed changes include:
- imposing certain restrictions on the quantities of VTA products that persons can buy, store, or use, which depend on the target pest and the environment in which it is to be used.
- ensuring commercial users of large amounts of brodifacoum have the appropriate training
- requiring auditable sales records to be recorded by retail outlets for tracking purposes
- restricting VTA use to bait stations unless specific approval is given by MPI
- designating a person responsible for the removal or clean-up of baits once a baiting program has ceased
- bringing the conditions for use into alignment with those of some of New Zealand's trading partners.
Next steps in our reassessment of products containing brodifacoum
There is still much work to do before we reach any decisions. That includes:
- talking again with industry representatives and stakeholders
- holding workshops to talk through areas of concern
- potentially seeking more feedback if we make further changes to the current proposals.
Related information about VTAs and regulations
Making, selling, and using VTAs
VTA registration and best practice tips [PDF, 66 KB]
Regulatory control of agricultural compounds in New Zealand [PDF, 322 KB]
Overview of risk management under the ACVM Act 1997 [PDF, 269 KB]