Gazette APVMA 9, 7 September 2004 page 30

NOTICE

metsulfuron-methyl

[in the product: DUPONT ALLY HERBICIDE]

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has before it an application from Du Pont (Australia) Limited for the use of metsulfuron-methyl to control certain broadleaved weeds in chickpeas. The product DUPONT ALLY HERBICIDE is registered for use on winter cereal crops for similar purposes. The product contains metsulfuron-methyl (600 g/kg) as the active constituent. The application requires the establishment of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for chickpeas.

The APVMA invites any person to submit a relevant written submission as to whether the application for this new use should be granted. Such submissions should detail comments stating the grounds on which the submission is based. Such grounds should relate only to the trade implications of the use of the product. Comments must be received by the APVMA within 28 days of the date of this notice.

Particulars of Application

Product Name: DUPONT ALLY HERBICIDE
Applicant Company: Du Pont (Australia) Limited
Active Constituent: 600 g/kg metsulfuron-methyl
Signal Heading: Exempt from scheduling
Statement of Claim: For the control of certain broadleaved weeds in chickpeas
Pack Sizes: 200 g, 500 g
Proposed MRLs: Table 1

Chick pea (dry): *0.05 mg/kg
Withholding Period: DO NOT harvest for 7 days after application
DO NOT graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application

*denotes MRL set at the analytical limit of quantification.

Summary of the APVMA’s assessment of the application in accordance with sections 29(1)(e) and (f) of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code (the ‘Agvet Code’) scheduled to the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994

The APVMA has evaluated the application and in its assessment in relation to human and environmental safety under section 29(1)(e) of the Agvet Code, it proposes to determine that:

Trade Evaluation
The APVMA is satisfied that the use of this product would not present an undue hazard to the safety of people from either consumption of produce harvested from treated crops or produce, from animals whose diet had included forage or fodder from crops treated with this product.

The Chemistry and Residues Program of the APVMA has completed an evaluation of the data and has supported the proposed MRLs and Withholding Periods for this product and its use patterns.

The APVMA is satisfied that if DUPONT ALLY HERBICIDE is used on chickpeas according to label recommendations and Good Agricultural Practice the proposed uses of the product would not unduly prejudice Australia’s export trade.

Export of treated produce containing pesticide residues may pose a risk to Australian trade in situations where (i) no residue tolerance (import tolerance) is established in the importing country or (ii) where residues in Australian produce are likely to exceed a residue tolerance (import tolerance) established in the importing country.

Residues occurring in livestock feed items such as grain, forage or fodder of chickpeas are expected to be negligible, therefore livestock exposure to metsulfuron-methyl residues from these sources is not expected to increase as a result of the proposed use.

A Trade Advice Notice (TAN), which includes a more detailed summary of the assessment, will be circulated to peak bodies of industry groups to allow comment prior to the determination of the application. Copies of the TAN are available on request from David Hutchison, Tel (02) 6271 6384.

Other Criteria
Additionally, the APVMA has addressed the following criteria during the evaluation of this application:
Target Species Efficacy and Safety

Submissions
Comments relating to the trade implications of the proposal to grant this application for variation of registration should be addressed in writing to:

Trevor Humphery
Pesticides Program
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
PO Box E240
KINGSTON ACT 2604

Phone: (02) 6271 6347
Fax: (02) 6272 3218