The products used to treat fire ants are assessed, registered, and/or permitted by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).
They are used according to the product's labels and permits, ensuring safety for people, animals, and the environment, and have been for many years.
Regulation of treatment products
The APVMA:
- registers agriculture and veterinary (agvet) chemicals
- approves permits for unregistered agvet chemicals and off-label use of registered chemicals
- assesses reports of adverse effects.
Before registering a product or allowing it to be used under a permit, the APVMA will:
- assess the risks to the environment, humans and animals
- ensure it meets effectiveness and labelling standards.
Use of treatment products
Each state and territory regulates the use of the products to treat fire ants. We all need to comply with the treatment options set out in the relevant legislation:
- In Queensland, granular treatment and direct nest injection treatments are used
- In New South Wales, see the additional guidance for the products used to treat fire ants.
All treatments in Australia are either registered with the APVMA and used according to the label, or used under an APVMA chemical permit.
Product labels
Every registered agvet chemical must have an APVMA-approved label. The label tells you how to use the product safely. Its instructions reflect the APVMA’s risk assessment.
Product labels include:
- what the product is for
- what's in it
- how to handle, store, and dispose of it
- any restrictions or conditions on its use
- information about hazards
- what to do in case of poisoning.
See APVMA's information on understanding pesticide labels.
Chemical permits
The APVMA issues chemical permits to allow a person to use:
- a registered chemical product differently to the label (also called off-label use)
- an unregistered chemical product.
A permit explains exactly who can use the product, how it can be used, and where.
We use the following products:
- Distance Ant Bait under permit PER87728
- Engage Ant Bait under permit PER90213
- Fipronil products under:
- Advion Fire Ant Bait according to the label 66532
- Rifaway Fire Ant Bait according to the label 94840.
The APVMA amend and reissue permits (sometimes with different numbers). The correct permit and version number are listed at the bottom of the permit.
You can also:
- see the APVMA’s information about applying for permits
- enter the permit number into the APVMA’s permit search
- read NSW’s treatment product guidance (including permit details).
Safety data sheets (SDS)
An SDS explains the potential hazards associated with a particular product.
Workplaces should use a product’s SDS to guide their workplace health and safety practices and risk assessments. The APVMA also considers any potential hazards when assessing permits and registrations.
See Safe Work Australia’s information on safety data sheets.
Adverse effects
If you believe you have experienced an adverse effect from fire ant treatment, you can report it to the APVMA.
More information
See additional guidance about treatment safety.