( CNN ) -- Ecological and conservation groups are praising a move by the Environmental Protection Agency to impose new restrictions on rat poisons to help reduce the threat of accidental exposure to children and wildlife . The rules say only farmers , livestock owners and certified rodent control employees can buy rat poison in bulk . `` We are very happy that the EPA has done all it can to get these products off of the consumer market , '' said Michael Fry , director of conservation advocacy for the American Bird Conservancy . `` By putting these restrictions in place , they are allowing a compromise to be made between themselves and organizations who have been working on this problem for a long time . '' The EPA 's new measures , which were handed down Thursday , require that rat poisons be kept in bait stations above ground and in containers that meet agency standards . Loose bait , such as pellets , and the four most hazardous types of pesticides , known as `` second-generation anticoagulants , '' will no longer be sold for personal use . Under the new restrictions , only farmers , livestock owners and certified rodent control employees will be allowed to purchase rat poison in bulk . Bags larger than 8 pounds will no longer be sold at hardware and home-improvement stores . Children who come into contact with highly toxic pellets can experience terrible symptoms from digesting them . They include internal bleeding , nosebleeds , hair loss and extensive bruising . Between 2001 and 2003 , rat poison was responsible for nearly 60,000 poisonings , according to a study done by the American Association of Poison Control Centers . About 250 of these yearly exposures result in serious injuries or death . The EPA said it believes the restrictions will not only keep the products out of children 's hands , but also reduce the ecological and wildlife risks associated with exposure to rat poison . Bait blocks that are typically placed on the ground use fish and other flavors that attract endangered species , including mountain lions . `` In California , almost every animal tested by the National Wildlife Service had residues of rodenticides , '' said Fry . `` The rat baits are also very lethal to scavengers , because the toxins remain in the rodent 's body long after they initially die . '' Although the EPA is receiving considerable praise for the initiative , this is n't the first time the agency has worked to combat the threat of rat poison . In 1998 , the EPA established two standards for rat poison . The agency required manufacturers to include an ingredient that made the poison taste bitter and use an indicator dye that would make the ingestion of pesticides more recognizable . But regulations were revoked in 2001 after the agency came to a mutual agreement with manufacturers to rescind the requirements . `` We determined that the dye was n't effective in keeping children from being accidentally exposed and the bittering agent actually resulted in a loss of efficiency in controlling rodents , '' said Steven Bradbury , director of the agency 's Division of Special Review and Re-registration . `` In our decision Thursday , we felt that we needed an approach that would stop children coming in contact with the pesticides in the first place . That ultimately led to the implementation of bait stations , '' Bradbury said . The decision to revoke the requirements led the West Harlem Environmental Action , Inc. and the Natural Resource Defense Council to file a lawsuit three years later . Both organizations saw the retraction as a way to make it easy for consumers to purchase unsafe rodenticides over the counter . According to the West Harlem group , inner-city housing and park departments such as the New York City Housing Authority could continue laying rat baits in public areas that were easily accessible to children . `` Studies show that the number of poisonings in minority children is much higher than others , '' said Aaron Colangelo , a staff attorney at the Natural Resource Defense Council . `` Not only do we have an environmental health issue , but an environmental justice issue as well . '' New York State Health Department studies showed that 57 percent of children hospitalized for rat poisoning were black and 26 percent were Latino . The EPA said it is working to reduce those numbers in upcoming years with regulations like the ones it introduced this week . `` We were frustrated that the EPA dragged their feet for three years before finally taking some productive steps , '' said Colangelo . `` But , from our perspective , they are finally starting to do what needs to be done in order to protect children . '' After June 4 , rat poison manufacturers will have 90 days to comply with the EPA 's guidelines . They will then have the opportunity to design new bait stations and formulas for their poisons . All new products should be registered and certified by June 2011 .
EPA says new regulations will reduce rat poison exposure to children , wildlife . Environmental groups laud efforts to keep rat poison off consumer market . New restrictions prohibit sale of loose pellets , bulk bags for personal use . Bait blocks for rats that are used in the wild can attract endangered species .