Pest management technicians
Pest management technicians (PMTs) hold a licence under the Pest Management Act 2001 (Pest Management Act). Those intending to continue to hold a licence will do so under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 (MPA) which replaced the PMA on 27 September 2021. Persons seeking to apply for a new PMT licence can do so under the MPA.
Current licence holders
Persons who currently hold a PMT licence will continue to be authorised for their existing endorsements, until it expires or is:
- surrendered
- cancelled
- amended.
New pest management technician licences
Persons seeking to apply pesticides or fumigants on a commercial fee for service basis will be required to hold a PMT licence under the MPA.
The MPA also applies to pest management activities carried out by PMTs in primary production.
As before, a PMT licence may be issued with endorsements relating to urban pest and timber pest control and/or fumigation.
Additional pest management endorsements will be available for:
- control of pest birds
- carrying out pest management activities in sensitive places (e.g. aged care or childcare premises)
- carrying out pest management activities in high-risk places (e.g. food manufacturing premises, intensive livestock farming).
Apply for a licence
To apply for a pest management licence, use Pest management application forms and fees.
Business owners
The obligations of business owners that employ PMTs have been clarified under the MPA. The business owners must provide equipment, including vehicles, tools and personal protective equipment, that are appropriate for the tasks to ensure that the pest management activity can be undertaken safely and effectively. This includes training and record keeping requirements.
Advice notices
Pre and post pest control advice notices to the occupant of the premises can now be delivered electronically. Post treatment advice can be based on pesticides used indoors or outdoors rather than each room unless different pesticides were used for a particular room or area.
Other requirements
Labelling, record-keeping, storage of pesticides and container requirements also remain unchanged and are set out in the Medicines and Poisons (Pest Management Activities) Regulation 2021 (Pest Management Regulation). Persons undertaking pest management activities, including business owners, will continue to comply with these requirements.
Schedule 7 (S7) pesticides and fumigants
PMTs seeking to sell or supply S7 pesticides or S7 fumigants, will require an S7 retail licence under the MPA.
Activity Risk Management Plans (ARMP)
An Activity Risk Management Plan (ARMP) will now be required prior to carrying out pest control activities in high-risk or sensitive places or conducting fumigation activities at any location. Templates are available to support the preparation of ARMPs:
Persons applying for endorsements for preparing ARMPs or supervising work at high-risk and sensitive places may need to demonstrate appropriate experience in such activities through certification from their employer.
Competency requirements and trainees
Competency requirements for pest control and fumigation activities are set up under the Departmental standard – Competency requirements for licensed technicians undertaking pest management activities with pesticides and fumigants (PDF 326 kB).
The Standard also prescribes competency requirements for new pest management activities such as pest bird control and persons planning and supervising PMTs working in high-risk and sensitive places.
Trainees may continue to work under the supervision of a licensed PMT. The business owner is responsible for ensuring the trainee is appropriately supervised.
Transition of pest management activity authorisations
This table summarises how the authorisations for pest management activities will transition to the new MPA.
Person | Pest management activity | Type of Authority | Scope | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| under HDPR | under MPA |
|
Pest management technicians | Commercial pest control activities | Pest control licence with endorsements, if any, for
| Pest control licence (Urban pests) with endorsements, if any, for
| Authorises treatment of urban pests in all situations and includes sensitive and high-risk places (see Pest management – supervisors’ category), in accordance with the Activity Risk Management Plan (ARMP) for the place and optionally for timber pests and/or pest birds |
Pest management technicians working in primary production | Commercial pest control activities in primary production | N/A | Pest control licence (Urban pests) | Authorises:
|
Pest management technician – supervisor | Planning and/or supervising pest control activities in high-risk or sensitive places | Pest control licence with endorsements, if any, for
| Pest control licence with endorsements for:
and/or
New endorsements on application. |
|
Pest management technicians | Fumigation | Fumigation licence with site environments specified | Fumigation licence with site environment specified | Persons licensed for fumigation must prepare and implement an ARMP for the place |
Pest management technicians | Sale or supply of S7 pesticides and fumigants | Licence to sell S7 poisons other than for human therapeutic use | S7 retail licence |
|
Definitions
- Under MPA: must use APVMA registered or permitted pesticide and comply with the competency requirements under the Departmental Standard.
- Urban pest: pests that are commonly found in places where people live and work, including for example, ants, cockroaches, mice, rats and spiders.
- Commercial pest: applies only to pest animals not pest plants. Use of herbicides is not regulated under the MPA.
Related information
- Transitional arrangements (PDF 253 kB)
- Poisons terms (PDF 392 kB)
- ARMP template - fumigation (DOCX 27 kB)
- ARMP template - pest control activity (DOCX 30 kB).