Bactericides -­ These destroy, suppress or prevent the spread of bacteria. Examples are swimming pool chemicals containing chlorine, and products used to control black spot (bacterial blight) on garden plants or in orchards. Household disinfectants and some industrial disinfectants are excluded and not considered pesticides.
Baits -­ These may be 'ready to use' products or products which need to be mixed with a food to control a pest. This category includes baits prepared for the control of large animals, such as foxes, wild dogs and rabbits, and baits for insects (such as cockroaches and ants) and molluscs (snail and slug pellets).
Fungicides -­ These control, destroy, make harmless or regulate the effect of a fungus. Examples include chemicals used to treat Grey mould on grape vines and fruit trees, or Downy Mildew on cucumbers.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - Agricultural crops can be genetically modified to make them more resistant to pests and diseases, or tolerant to certain herbicides. For example, a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis can be incorporated into cotton to provide protection against the larval stages of the cotton bollworm and native bollworm.
GMOs are regulated by the Commonwealth Government through the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) under the provisions of the Gene Technology Act 2000. Where a genetically modified product is determined to be a pesticide, it is subject to an assessment and registration process in accordance with APVMA requirements.
Herbicides -­ These destroy, suppress or prevent the spread of a weed or other unwanted vegetation, for example, the herbicide glyphosate is used to control a range of weeds in home gardens, bushland and agricultural situations.
Insecticides -­ These destroy, suppress, stupefy, inhibit the feeding of, or prevent infestations or attacks by, an insect. Insecticides are used to control a wide variety of insect pests, including thrips, aphids, moths, fruit flies and locusts. In NSW, pesticides include products such as flea powders and liquids used externally on animals. Injections or other medicines administered internally to treat animals are veterinary medicines and are regulated by the NSW Department of Primary Industries under the Stock Medicines Act 1989.
Lures -­ These are chemicals that attract a pest to a pesticide for the purpose of its destruction. Solely food-based lures, for example cheese in a mousetrap, are excluded and are not considered pesticides.
Rodenticides -­ These are chemicals used specifically for controlling rodents such as mice and rats.
Repellents -­ These repel rather than destroy a pest. Included in this category are personal insect repellents used to repel biting insects.
A number of living organisms that can control pests have also been registered as pesticides. Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, for example, has been used to control rabbit numbers; and bacteria that act as biological insecticides have been used to control various insect larvae, such as moths and mosquitoes.