Phosphine Limits Delayed Across Australian States

Queensland and other mainland states have postponed revised workplace exposure limits for the grain fumigant phosphine.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Agriculture

Phosphine Limits Delayed Across Australian States

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Should workplace safety limits be delayed when they threaten essential farm tools?

Queensland's government has delayed new workplace exposure limits for phosphine, the grain industry's primary fumigant, and all mainland states have paused the revised limits. The changes, devised by Safe Work Australia, would cut the time-weighted average limit from 0.3 ppm to 0.05 ppm.

Why it matters

Industry argues the revised limits would make phosphine virtually unusable in practice and that more work is needed before they can be implemented. The deferrals give time for research into alternatives and practical solutions.

The revised time-weighted average limit falls from 0.3 ppm to 0.05 ppm, with a 0.15 ppm peak limit, while deferrals run three years in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia and 18 months in South Australia and New South Wales. The GRDC research due in mid-2028 has not yet concluded, so the practical feasibility of the new limits is still unknown.

The players

Safe Work Australia

Safe Work Australia is the national agency that develops workplace health and safety policy and devised the revised phosphine exposure limits.

Grains Research and Development Corporation

The Grains Research and Development Corporation is the federal government-backed body funding research into grain industry practices, including phosphine alternatives.

The details

Safe Work Australia devised the revised limits, which were due to take effect on 1 December. State governments granted the deferrals after industry advocacy for more time to develop solutions, with Queensland's announced this week.

1 December: original introduction date for the revised phosphine limits, now delayed
Mid-2028: expected completion of Grains Research and Development Corporation phosphine research

Seasonal Patterns

The pause on Safe Work Australia's revised phosphine limits extends a national workplace exposure framework that states have now deferred for periods of 18 months to three years. The grain sector's reliance on phosphine as its primary fumigant makes the outcome of GRDC research due in mid-2028 central to any future limit.

Grain growers and grain handlers should keep using phosphine under current rules, since the revised limits are paused across all mainland states. Anyone working with fumigants should check their state's current workplace requirements, as deferral periods differ by state.

The takeaway

The deferrals give the grain sector time to develop workable alternatives before stricter phosphine limits apply. Growers should watch for the GRDC findings expected in mid-2028, which will shape how the revised limits are applied.

What happens next

Safe Work Australia's revised limits are next due for introduction after the 18-month and three-year deferral periods end, with GRDC research expected to conclude in mid-2028.