Austrian specific information
The rodenticide strategy of the Austrian biocides authority.
New requirements for rodenticides containing 1st and 2nd generation anticoagulants
Since 1st March 2018, for reasons of public health in the European Union, rodenticides containing anticoagulant active substances may only be authorized for private users (non-professional users) if they are not classified as toxic for reproduction according to the CLP Regulation. The decisive concentration limit for the active ingredients is 0.003% in the product. In Austria, further risk management measures for the reason of environmental protections was deemed to be needed.
In March 2018 Austria has on grounds of environmental protection prohibited the use of rodenticides containing second-generation anticoagulants as active substances for non-professional users. The above mentioned active substances are particularly problematic as they are (very) persistent in the environment and accumulate in organisms. The use of the respective products should therefore, be placed in the hands of (trained) professional users having the expertise necessary to use these products safely. In this way, the exposure and environmental risks are further reduced as well as the risk of resistance development due to improper use is efficiently avoided.
Labels of the products shall contain the statement"For professional use only", which indicates that these products are prohibited for private users (non-professional users). Also, a minimum size of 3 kilograms is intended for the packaging for professional users or trained professional users; It shall ensure that the product is sold only to these user categories.
A period of grace for sale of legally available products and a period of grace for legal use has been granted.
Basic principles for risk mitigation for the authorisation of rodenticides in Austria
The Austrian competent authority defined certain risk mitigation measures (RMMs) years ago, which are laid down in the licences authorizing rodenticides (pursuant to Art. 37 of the Biocidal Products Regulation) in Austria. In our view, these RMMs are necessary in order to implement the precautionary principle, to reduce the exposure of non-target organisms, to respect environmental protection and eventually to protect public health and to ensure the safest possible use of rodenticides.
Requirements in Austria stipulate that non-professional users may only place the bait in bait stations. Refills for the bait station must be individually packed.
However, for professional users, who typically also need to use bait stations, unpacked refill packs for bait stations are available and they are allowed to use products packaged in different ways (e.g. products in cartridges or canned foams).
Non-professional and professional users may only place rodenticides in and around buildings.
Trained professional users are allowed to use bait in every packaging, under certain conditions even loose application of bait is allowed. Placing of bait in open areas is intended only for this group of users and only on nonresidential and industrially used areas where covering the bait is possible. In addition, they are allowed to place the rodenticides in the vicinity of buildings and traffic infrastructure facilities, in parks, sports facilities, embankments, ditches and dams. To protect domestic animals and the wildlife, however, bait stations must be used in this case (see summary).
Bait without bait stations may only be placed if children and animals can be safely kept away.
Further requirements for product authorisation, which go beyond the risk mitigation measures specified by the Austrian competent authority, may be product-specific and are based on the assessment of the reference competent authority.
Approved active substances (as of June 2019)
Chlorophacinon, Coumatetralyl, Warfarin
Brodifacoum, Bromadiolon, Difenacoum, Difethialon, Flocoumafen
Table 1: Summary of risk mitigation measures for the authorisation of rodenticides in Austria
| non-professional users | professional users | trained professional users | |
| bait only in bait stations | bait only in bait stations except technically not feasible (eg. block bait in sewers) and if children and animals can be safely kept away | bait of any kind, even loose application, as long as children and animals can be safely kept away | |
| individually packaged refill packs for bait stations | refill packs also unpackaged, tray with peel-off foil lid, products in cartridges, foam in cans | ||
| products with second generation anticoagulants (SGARs) as active substances are not allowed | label "For professional use only" | label "For professional use only" | |
| minimum package size: 3 kg | minimum package size: 3 kg | ||
| application in and around buildings | application in and around buildings | placing of bait in open areas: | |
| a) covered bait on non-residential and industrial areas | |||
| b) only in bait stations in the vicinity of buildings and traffic infrastructure facilities, in parks and sports facilities, embankments, ditches and dams |
For any questions, please contact the biocides helpdesk:
or write an email to
Background information
A distinction is made between first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) and second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs).
Approved active ingredients (January 2018):
FGARs: Chlorophacinone, Coumatetralyl, Warfarin
SGARs: Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Difenacoum, Difethialone, Flocoumafen