Treatment safety

Fire ant treatment products are assessed and approved for use in Australia. Find out what treatment means for people, animals, food and the environment.

Products are independently assessed

Fire ant treatment products are assessed and approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

The APVMA assesses the safety, effectiveness and potential impacts on people, animals and the environment before approving the product.

The active ingredients in the treatment products are widely used in veterinary and agricultural applications, including in products that control fleas, ticks and other parasites in animals. They are also approved to treat pests on food crops and in drinking water to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

We follow approved product label instructions and permit conditions when applying treatment products.

Treatment products used

We use 2 granular treatment products:

  • Distance Ant Bait (active ingredient: pyriproxyfen)
  • Engage Ant Bait (active ingredient: s-methoprene).

Each product contains corn grit, soybean oil and a very small amount of active ingredient.

The granules are designed to be collected by foraging fire ants and break down over time.

Direct nest injection (DNI) product

If we need to immediately eliminate a fire ant nest, we may use direct nest injection, which involves injecting a liquid insecticide containing fipronil into the nest.

See product information for direct nest injection to learn more about the liquid product we use.

What you may need to do

Sometimes we'll ask you not to mow, water or disturb a treated area for a short time. This gives fire ants time to collect the treatment granules and improves treatment effectiveness.

This is not a safety waiting period for people or animals.

We may ask you to:

  • temporarily move livestock or poultry
  • tell us about commercial crops and home gardens with fruit and vegetables
  • avoid mowing or watering treated areas for a short time after treatment.

We'll discuss any specific requirements with you before treatment begins.

Read what to expect during treatment.

People and children

People can use treated areas once treatment is applied, unless we advise otherwise.

As with any garden product, children should not deliberately handle or eat treatment granules.

If the product touches skin, wash the area with soap and water.

Allergies and sensitivities

We commissioned an independent review of evidence about the treatment products we use.

The review found no published peer-reviewed scientific evidence linking these products with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) or immune sensitisation.

Read SLR Consulting’s report about their review.

For medical advice, contact your doctor.

Pets and other animals

Animals (except for poultry) can usually enter the treatment area after we’ve applied the product, unless we advise otherwise.

The presence of fire ants can pose a greater risk to animal health than using approved treatment products according to directions.

Horses and livestock

If you keep horses, cattle, sheep, goats or other livestock, we’ll consider:

  • where your animals are kept or graze
  • where you keep feed and water
  • whether you can move the animals
  • any grazing or product-specific requirements.

Poultry and birds

Poultry need different arrangements from pets and other animals.

Keep chickens, ducks, geese and other poultry away from treated areas for 24 hours.

Keeping poultry away from the area for 24 hours prevents them from eating the granules and gives fire ants time to collect the treatment.

Do not feed poultry lawn clippings or turf from treated areas.

Bees and wildlife

We choose products and treatment methods to minimise impacts on wildlife and beneficial insects.

Granular products use soybean oil to attract ants. They don’t contain sugar and aren’t considered an attractive food source for bees.

The granules are also too large for bees to collect.

Some native ant species may collect treatment product. However, research indicates that any impacts to these species are not widespread or long-term.

We studied how native ant species responded to fire ant treatments between 2001 and 2006. Our research found that affected native ant species recover following treatment.

Additional research is being conducted to monitor local ant populations in alignment with current permit requirements.

Fish and other aquatic animals

Some treatment products can be harmful to fish and aquatic animals if they enter waterbodies.

Near waterbodies we use products containing s-methoprene, comply with all permit conditions and use application methods that minimise risks to fish and other aquatic animals.

Land, vegetation and water

Food gardens, crops, horticulture and pastures

Depending on what is grown on your property, we may adjust where, when or how we apply treatment.

We’ll let you know if there are specific harvesting or washing requirements.

Organic crops

If you have certified organic crops on your property, let us know. We'll discuss treatment options with you.

Contact your organic certification body for compliance advice.

Waterbodies

Near waterbodies we use products containing s-methoprene and application methods that minimise the risk of products entering the water.

We comply with all permit conditions and buffer areas when treating near water.

Technical information

We apply treatment products according to product labels, APVMA permits and safety data sheets.

Our application methods comply with biosecurity, environmental and workplace health and safety requirements.

Distance Ant Bait

Engage Ant Bait

Liquid product used for direct nest injection

This product is not used for aerial or ground-based broadscale application.

Use of fipronil products

Only trained and licensed operators carry out direct nest injection treatments.
  • Before direct nest injection, the product is mixed with water. The prepared treatment contains 25mL of product per 100L of water, in accordance with the APVMA permit requirements for products containing 100g/L fipronil.
  • Using a highly diluted product means that fire ants aren’t alerted to its presence.
  • Fipronil is also registered by the APVMA for use in termite control, lawn care and pet flea treatment products.
  • Fipronil can harm non-target animals and aquatic life if it’s used incorrectly. For this reason, trained operators apply the prepared solution directly into confirmed fire ant nests in accordance with permit, label and safety requirements.

Concerns about treatment

Report a problem with a chemical product to the APVMA if you have evidence that the treatment is causing adverse effects on people, animals or the environment.

Contact your doctor or veterinarian for specific medical advice for you or your animals.

If you have evidence that the products are being misused, report it to: