A form of rodent poison that inadvertently kills possums, eagles and owls has been removed from a major e-commerce platform, amid calls to ban the product.
Common rat poisons known to kill native animals are being pulled from the shelves of Amazon Australia, fuelling calls for a broader ban on the chemicals.
While second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are aimed at killing rats, they often unintentionally poison wedge-tailed eagles, tawny frogmouths, quolls and family pets.
The US, Canada and the EU have already restricted sales of these poisons, but they are relatively easy to buy at major Australian retailers such as Bunnings, Coles and Woolworths.
However, e-commerce giant Amazon says it is in the process of removing these products from its Australian website.
“If a global retailer can recognise the cruelty these poisons cause, there’s no excuse for keeping them on shelves,” Animal Justice Party NSW MP Emma Hurst said.
“The tide is finally turning against products that silently kill our precious native animals.
“Banning the sale of SGARs across the state is a commonsense decision that puts animals, ecosystems and even children’s safety first.”
These poisons are designed to make rats internally bleed to death in a single dose.
Studies have found rodents can take up to two weeks to die, giving them time to consume more doses, and making rats and rabbits even more poisonous to the birds of prey that go on to eat them.
The federal government’s pesticides watchdog has launched a review into the rodenticides, with a regulatory decision due before the end of the year.
Woolworths acknowledged it sells a small range of the rat poisons and noted their importance for customers in rural areas.
“We also sell a number of alternative options including ultrasonic repellents, traps and rodenticides without second generation anticoagulants,” a Woolworths spokesperson said.
“We encourage all of our customers to follow the instructions outlined on these products, which include clear labels and warnings about safe use, storage and disposal.”
AAP has also contacted Coles, while Bunnings declined to comment.
