Code of Practice for Use of 1080 Poison
for Native Browsing Animal Control

1. Introduction
1.1 This Code defines procedures to be followed when using 1080 poison for control of native browsing animals in Tasmania.

1.2 Some species of browsing animal have benefited from current agricultural and forestry activities with the result that they are present in large numbers in many parts of Tasmania where they can cause significant damage to forest and agricultural crops, and compete with livestock for available pasture. This include native species such as brushtail possums, Bennett’s wallabies and Tasmanian pademelons, as well as introduced species including rabbits. These populations are monitored on a regular basis by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment.

1.3 Farmers and foresters frequently have a real need to reduce damage to pastures and crops by browsing animals.

1.4 The objective of browsing control is to minimise damage to the crop, not to destroy the animals. Shooting and fencing are the preferred methods of protecting crops and pastures, where these methods are effective and economical. Where this is not the case, 1080 poison may be an effective alternative for controlling browsing damage.

1.5 There is ongoing work into alternatives to 1080 poison for browsing control. These alternatives will be implemented when found to be economically and practically viable.

2. Responsibilities
2.1 Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment – Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS): Where 1080 poison is used to control Protected Wildlife, a Permit to Take Protected Wildlife will be required under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1970) administered by the PWS. These permits may specify such additional conditions as may be required to protect non-target species. The issuing officer will evaluation whether alternatives must be undertaken before resorting to poison. The PWS provides information to users on alternative control measures and on measures to avoid poisoning of non-target wildlife.

2.2 Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment – Food Quality and Safety Branch (DPIWE): The control and supervision of the use of 1080 poison rests with the DPIWE under the authority of the Poisons Act (1971) and the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act (1995). DPIWE provide information and advice to users and the wider public on the toxicology and environmental effects of 1080. This department also has responsibility under the Vermin Destruction Act (1950) to ensure that landholders destroy rabbits on their properties.

2.3 The Permit holder: The Police Offences Act (1935) requires the permit holder, as the occupier of the property, to display notices advising that poison has been laid. Permit holders are also responsible for notifying neighbours of their intention to lay 1080 poison and for satisfying the Competent Officer supplying 1080 poison that this has been done. They also have a responsibility to use 1080 as directed so as to minimise its adverse effects on people, pets, stock and the environment.

3. Issue of Permits to use 1080 poison
3.1 A permit to lay 1080 poison will be issued only when an officer authorised under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1970) is satisfied that there is an unacceptable risk to a crop or pasture, that the use of 1080 does not pose an unacceptable risk to non-target species and, following discussion with the permit applicant, that alternative control measures including shooting and fencing have been considered and are not practicable. The latter requirement is deemed to be satisfied in situations where an approved and accountable Property-based Wildlife Management Plan is currently in operation. An acceptable evaluation system is to be used to ensure that all factors are considered before a permit is issued.

3.2 Holders of permits to use 1080 poison must give written notification of their intention to lay poison to all adjoining neighbours of the property or forestry couple, as well as any other neighbour whose property boundary lies within 500 metres of the intended poison line at lease 4 working days prior to the poison being laid. This allows persons who have any concerns at least 4 working days to discuss them with the applicant, officers of DPIWE Food Quality and Safety or the PWS. A permit is not valid unless neighbours have been notified.

3.3 Advice is available to neighbouring property holders from the PWS in relation to the nature of the wildlife populations potentially affected, alternative control measures and the risks of non-target poisoning.

3.4 Advice is available to neighbouring property holders from DPIWE Food Quality and Safety Branch in relation to the toxicology of 1080 poison, potential threats to pets, stock, people and environmental effects.

3.5 The use of 1080 poison may be permitted prior to planting,. The need for pre-planting control may be assessed from the take of non-toxic baits laid within the area to be planted, In situations where it is evident from previous adjacent damage that pre-planting control is necessary, permits may be issued without non-toxic bait being laid.

3.6 Permits for use of 1080 poison to protect established pasture shall be preceded by the issue and use, without success, of a Permit to take Protected Wildlife by shooting with the aid of a vehicle and spotlight (available from PWS). Permits will not be reissued for areas of established pasture adjacent to extensive bush unless a reasonable case exits and a control strategy based on shooting or fencing is in place.

4. The Supervision of 1080 Use
4.1 1080 concentrate may be either stored or used only by officers authorised as Competent Officers by the Registrar of Chemical Products, or the Secretary of DPIWE, under the provisions of the Poisons Act (1971).

4.2 Baits containing less than 0.04% 1080 are registered for sale under conditions specified by the National Registration Authority. A poisoning service will not be supplied until the permit holder or their agent has completed and signed an Application to Use Poison form. Where a permit holder or their agent lays baits, an Authority to Purchase and Use 1080 Bait must be issued under the provisions of the Poisons Act (1971) by the Competent Officer. The Competent Officer may impose any conditions deemed necessary.

4.3 All poisoning operations will be supervised by a Competent Officer. The officer will inform the permit holder of the requirement under the Police Offences Act (1935) to display notices advising that poison has been laid as well as the need to notify neighbours of their intention to lay poison. The officer will warn the permit holder of the risks of stock poisoning, and the risk of secondary poisoning to dogs and cats, the need to keep children away from the area to be poisoned and be shown the safety directions printed on the reverse side of the authority form.

4.4 The Competent Officer will decide the manner of distributing the poisoned baits, including whether the permit holder should be allowed to distribute the baits.

4.5 The Competent Officer will maintain a register of poison received or used including the names and addresses of landholders on whose properties the poison was laid, the date it was laid, the amount used and the target species. At the end of each month a record of poison used by each officer during the month will be collated and a report made to the Director, Food Quality and Safety.

5. Notification of use
5.1 Holders of permits to use 1080 poison must give written notificati8on of their intention to lay poison, with the proposed date, to all adjoining neighbours of the property or forestry coupe, as well as to all neighbours whose property boundary lies within 500 metres of the intended poison line at least 4 working days prior to the poison being laid. Delays of more than 7 days from the intended date of poisoning will require this process of neighbour notification to be repeated. Proforma letters of advice, a fact sheet and a form on which to record who was notified, the date, and how the notification was given, will be provided for the purpose, This form must be completed and signed by the permit holder and handed to the Competent Officer prior to poison being mixed.

5.2 The Police Offences Act (1935) requires the occupier of property where 1080 poison is used to display on gates and other conspicuous places on the property notices advising that 1080 poison has been laid. These notices are to be in a format approved by the DPIWE and will be issued by them, and must be displayed for a minimum of 28 days.

6. Laying of 1080 Poison Baits
6.1 The mixing of 1080 poison with bait shall be done only by a Competent Officer. Baits containing 1080 poison at a concentration of 0.014% shall be used in routine agricultural and forestry situations.

6.1.1 Poison baits must not be laid within 20 metres of a stream containing permanent running water, 5 m from a neighbours property boundary and 5 m from a formed road unless where public access to the road is denied (A formed road means any road which is graded and gravelled, distances are measured from the edge of the stream or road). Poison must not be laid within 200 metres of an occupied house without the occupants consent in writing, verification of which must be provided to the Competent Officer.

6.2 At the discretion of the Competent Officer, a permit holder may distribute the bait or it may be left for the permit holder to distribute later. If the Competent Officer has any doubts as to the ability of the permit holder to distribute the poisoned bait in a satisfactory manner and to observe the necessary precautions the officer must supervise the distribution of the poison, either by laying the baits personally or with the assistance of the permit holder.

6.3 Bait that is left for laying later by the permit holder must be placed in waterproof plastic bags to which poison labels have been attached and the bags personally passed to the permit holder or their agent by the Competent Officer. The permit holder must be warned of the dangers of the poison and told to keep the poisoned bait in a secure place inaccessible to children, stock and wildlife. Adequate arrangement for the destruction of bags must be made by the permit holder.

7. Post Poisoning Precautions
7.1 Uneaten baits must be covered or collected and destroyed on the property within 7 days of mixing, or as instructed by the Competent Officer.

7.2 The site must be visited within 24 hours of laying bait and all reasonable effort must be made to recover carcases. Any females recovered must be examined for pouch young and if one is present it must be humanely destroyed. (Suitable techniques include decapitation with a sharp knife or a heavy blow to the head as suggested in the ‘Code of Practice for the Humane Killing of Kangaroos’ Published by Environment Australia 1998.) Carcases that are collected should be disposed of by either burial or incineration.

8. Definitions
8.1 Competent Officer: Under the Poisons Act (1971) a Competent Officer means the Secretary of DPIWE, the Registrar of Chemical Products or an employee of the DPIWE authorised in writing by the Secretary to perform the functions of a Competent Officer. A Competent Officer must have received adequate training in the use of 1080 poison, as well as its toxicology and environmental effects.

8.2 Authorised Officer: Any officer of the PWS authorised by the Director under the authority of the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1970) to act as his nominee in issuing permits to take protected wildlife. This authority is granted only to appropriately trained officers. Authorised officers may consult with officers of the DPIWE Food Quality and Safety Branch on matters relating to the crop and the threat posed to the crop by browsing.