Pest management licence activities for high-risk and sensitive places

Under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 (MPA), licensed pest management technicians (PMTs) are required to hold relevant authority if treating urban pests at high-risk or sensitive places.

The competency requirements for pest management licence activities are prescribed in the Queensland Health Departmental Standard - Competency requirements for licensed technicians undertaking pest management activities with pesticides and fumigants (PDF 326 kB).

You can download the fact sheet Pest control at high-risk or sensitive places (PDF 225 kB) .

High-risk or sensitive places

PMTs carrying out pest management activities at high-risk or sensitive places must comply with the Activity Risk Management Plan (see LINK TO ARMP page) and either hold anauthorisation or be supervised by a PMT who holds the authorisation for high risk or sensitive places.

The pest management activity authorisation for high-risk or sensitive places are intended for experienced PMTs who are required to:

  • supervise other licenced PMTs carrying out pest control activities at high risk or sensitive places
  • prepare Activity Risk Management Plans (ARMPs) to ensure activities are carried out safely.

Pest management businesses may therefore have a limited number (appropriate for the size and reach of the business) of experienced PMTs with an authority for the activity of treating pests that are urban pest. Licensed PMTs do not need to hold the high-risk or sensitive place authority when undertaking pest management activities at high-risk or sensitive places if they:

  1. follow an ARMP that has been prepared for the activity by a PMT who holds the authority for the relevant place; and
  2. carry out the activity under the supervision of another PMT who is authorised for this type of pest management activity.
    Note that treatment of timber pests or pest birds do not require the authorisation to treat urban pests at high-risk or sensitive places and no ARMP is required to be prepared at this stage

Supervision of PMTs carrying out pest management activities at high-risk or sensitive places does not have be onsite directly, PMTs can be supervised by using an electronic communications device e.g. phone, two-way radio.

See examples of high-risk and sensitive places in the table below.

Place typeExamples These are NOT considered as high-risk or sensitive places. Please do not send examples of pest control work relating to these.
High-risk – livestock farming Egg or meat poultry farms when in sheds or enclosures
Piggeries
Cattle or sheep feedlots
Dairy sheds
Hobby farms
Small scale farms not operating on a commercial scale
Dairy or cattle operation in educational settings
High-risk – food processing and food manufacturing Canneries
Breweries
Large baked goods factories
Large food manufacturing including frozen food
Produce packing sheds
Wholesale fish markets
Facilities where unpackaged raw food products are handled (distribution centres for supermarkets)
Retail food outlets: Cafés, bars and restaurants
Supermarkets
Small, local food manufacturing
Pet food manufacturing
Sensitive places Nursing homes
Primary/secondary schools
Kindergartens
Hospitals with inpatient service
TAFE or universities
Government agencies
Dentists’ or doctors’ surgeries
Diagnostic facilities (x-ray, pathology or radiology services)

Activity Risk Management Plans (ARMPs)

Activity Risk Management Plans (ARMPs) are intended to assist in identifying and managing known and foreseeable risks associated with pest management activities at high-risk or sensitive places. Before carrying out a pest management activity, that is not relating to timber pests or pest birds, at a high-risk or sensitive place PMTs must ensure:

  • an ARMP has been prepared for the activity at the place
  • the PMT who prepared the ARMP holds a PMT licence with the authority for preparing ARMPs high risk or sensitive places
  • they have the contact details of the PMT authorised to supervise the activity.

During the activity PMTs must follow the ARMP and, if necessary, contact an authorised PMT to supervise pest management activities at high-risk or sensitive places, to seek advice on any issues the PMT is unsure of. Templates are available to support the preparation of ARMPs.

Applying for high-risk or sensitive place endorsements

PMTs may apply for the authorisation using the Application for a Pest Management Licence. Applications for high-risk or sensitive places must include evidence of competencies as outlined in the table below and be accompanied by the applicable fee for amending a pest management licence.

Competency requirements for high-risk or sensitive places *

Option 1

Provide copies of the Cert IV in Urban Pest Management competencies:

For sensitive places

CPPUPM4003 – Assess and advise on pest management options for sensitive operations; and
CPPUPM4005 – Implement and monitor pest management plans for sensitive operations

For high-risk places

CPPUPM4004 – Assess and advise on pest management options for complex operations; and
CPPUPM4006 – Implement and monitor pest management plans for complex operations

OR

Provide copies of equivalent Cert III in Urban Pest Management competencies as prescribed under the Queensland Health Departmental Standard - Competency requirements for licensed technicians undertaking pest management activities with pesticides and fumigants (PDF 326 kB)

Option 2

NOTE - Option 2 below will only be made available to applications lodged prior to the amendments to the Medicines and Poisons (Pest Management Activities) Regulation 2021 taking effect, this is expected on or about the 1 December 2023.

If employed by a pest management business – provide a letter from their employer advising that the licensed PMT holds the necessary knowledge and experience to:

Prepare an Activity Risk Management Plan (ARMP) for high-Risk or Sensitive places; and
Supervise other PMTs undertaking pest management activities at High-Risk or Sensitive places; and
Provide documentary evidence of past pest management activities at high-risk or sensitive places e.g. pest advice notices and treatment records. Five records in the last two years for each endorsement being applied for.

OR

If a self-employed licensed PMT – provide documentary evidence of past pest management activities at high-risk or sensitive places e.g. pest advice notices and treatment records. Five records in the last two years for each endorsement being applied for.

Documentary evidence must be sufficiently detailed to identify the licensed PMT (name or licence number) who carried out the activity. Acceptable evidence includes pest control advice notices and treatment records. Note – generic statements provided under a company name (e.g. invoices) may not be acceptable.

* If you have not yet obtained the activity for high-risk or sensitive places and wish to continue to do so after December 2023, then you should apply for the endorsements before the Standard commences, to allow for continuity of business operations. Please follow the instructions for Option 2 in the table above. You will need to complete the new competencies prior to the 12-month anniversary of the new standard commencing.

Once the new standard is in force, you will require evidence of completed competencies upon application. For specific rules about potential grandfathering of these authorities, please refer to the fact sheet for Pest control at high-risk or sensitive places (PDF 225 kB).

Bird pests

Pest birds has been introduced as a new pest management activity under the MPA and applies only to the use of chemical products for treating birds. PMTs do not need to hold the pest bird activity for physical control of birds such as spikes or netting.

To obtain the pest bird activity PMTs can apply using the Application for a Pest Management Licence (PDF 210 kB). Applicants will need to provide evidence of completion of the Pest Bird Management Using Avicides Workshop approved by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

* Departmental Standard – Competency requirements for licensed technicians undertaking pest management activities with pesticides and fumigants – version 1 (PDF 326 kB).

Queries about authorisations for pest management activities can be directed to the Environmental Hazards Unit by email to environmentalhazards@health.qld.gov.au

Last updated: 8 November 2023