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 (explained below) and either hold an authorisation 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:

  • follow an ARMP that has been prepared for the activity by a PMT who holds the authority for the relevant place
  • 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

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 (PDF 359 kB). 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

To demonstrate the competency to operate in high-risk or sensitive places, either:

Bird pests

Pest birds has been introduced as a 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 359 kB). Applicants will need to provide evidence of completion of the Pest Bird Management Using Avicides Workshop approved by the Department of Primary Industries.

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

Requests for more information about authorisations for pest management activities can be directed to the Environmental Hazards Unit at environmentalhazards@health.qld.gov.au.

Last updated: 26 August 2025