Priority 1 - Chemicals nominated for review

Acephate (HH, R) Acrolein (HH, R) Brodifacoum and 2nd generation anticoagulants (E) Chloropicrin (HH) Fipronil (E) Mebendazole (HH) Methomyl (HH, R) Nicarbazin (HH) Profenofos (HH) Propiconazole (HH) Trichlorfon (E, HH, R) Toltrazuril (HH) Veterinary and Agricultural Disinfectants and Sanitisers (Eff)

Reasons for Nomination: HH = Human Health, E = Environmental, R = Residues, Eff = Efficacy

The Priority Chemical Review List divides chemicals nominated for review into four priority groupings from Priority 1 to Priority 4 which Priority 1 indicating the highest level of concern, it does not necessarily mean that chemicals will be reviewed in strict order of priority.
Back to full priority list of chemicals nominated for review

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Acephate (HH, R)

Acephate is an organophosphorus insecticide used in agriculture. Acephate is classified as a schedule 6 chemical (i.e. carrying the signal heading ‘poison’) in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP) and has a moderate potential to cause harm. Acephate has been nominated for review because of human health and residues concerns.

Products containing acephate include soluble powders, dry flowable or granular formulations that are mixed with water before application by spray. Acephate products are used throughout Australia for the control of various insect pests on bananas, crucifers, macadamias, ornamentals, potatoes, tomatoes and tobacco crops.

Veterinary and Agricultural Disinfectants and Sanitisers (Eff)

Veterinary and agricultural disinfectants and sanitisers are registered for the control of a range of microbial pathogens including, viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa.  These products contain various active constituents and are used in a range of different situations. 

The APVMA has nominated veterinary and agricultural disinfectants and sanitisers for reconsideration because of concerns relating to their efficacy, the adequacy of label claims and the label instructions for use.  The APVMA will undertake a reconsideration of registrations and label approvals of disinfectants and sanitisers in two phases.  Phase 1 of the reconsideration will reconsider veterinary disinfectants and sanitisers and Phase 2 of the reconsideration will reconsider agricultural disinfectants and sanitisers.

Phase 1: Veterinary Disinfectants and Sanitisers

Veterinary disinfectant and sanitiser products to be reconsidered are products which claim to control a range pathogens or specific pathogens, where products are used in situations where animals are housed, treated or maintained (e.g. veterinary surgeries, animal facilities, kennels and cages). The APVMA will reconsider veterinary disinfectants and sanitisers to ensure that the products are effective in controlling groups of pathogens and/or specific pathogens that are referred to on the product label. 

A group of general disinfectants i.e. those making claims to kill micro-organisms generally and without specific claims, were ‘reserved from registration’ on 26 September 2007.  The effect of this is that a product that meets certain specific conditions does not require registration.  Further information on reserved veterinary disinfectants can be downloaded from the APVMA website by accessing Schedule 3C ‘Reserved Schedule’ on page 123 of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical Code Regulations 1995. The APVMA will not reconsider this group of products.

Phase 2: Agricultural Disinfectants and Sanitisers

Agricultural disinfectants and sanitisers that will be considered for reconsideration are products used as food/feed area disinfectants for use on/in agricultural premises, food storage and processing and dairies.

Brodifacoum and 2nd generation anticoagulants (E)

Brodifacoum is an agricultural and home/garden rodenticide. Brodifacoum is classified as a schedule 6 chemical (i.e. carrying the signal heading ‘poison’) in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP) and contains a moderate potential to cause harm. Brodifacoum has been nominated for review because of environmental concerns.

Brodifacoum is a vertebrate poison which is used as a bait to kill mice and rats around industrial, commercial, agricultural and domestic buildings. Brodifacoum is an anticoagulant meaning it prevents blood clotting.

Anticoagulant rodenticides are either classified as first-generation or second-generation. First-generation anticoagulants are such as warfarin, are generally less toxic and require a higher concentration and consecutive intake over a number of days to be effective. Therefore, first-generation anticoagulants are less toxic to non-target species.  Second-generation anticoagulants were developed to kill rodents that had become resistant to the first-generation anticoagulants. They include brodifacoum, bromadiolone difencoum, diphacinone and flocoumafen. Second-generation anticoagulants require lower concentrations and only a single feed to kill rodents. Therefore they are more toxic than the first-generation anticoagulants and have greater potential to kill non-target species.

The APVMA will review second-generation anticoagulants, particularly considering environmental concerns relating to the potential for non-target poisoning and the potential for secondary poisoning caused by predatory animals eating poisoned rodents.

Chloropicrin (HH)

Chloropicrin is an insecticide, soil fumigant and rodenticide. Chloropicrin is classified as a dangerous poison (Schedule 7) in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP). It has a high potential to cause harm at low exposure. Chloropicrin has been nominated for review because of environmental and human health concerns.

Products containing chloropicrin include liquefied gas, pressurised gas and liquid formulations that are used in a range of situations. Products containing chloropicrin are used as fumigants in compost and mulch and as soil fumigants for nursery, horticultural and broad acre crop situations. Products containing chloropicrin are also used in stored cereals, pulses, dried fruit and timber commodities as well as in buildings. Chloropicrin is used for the eradication of micro-organisms, insects, rodents, rabbits and weed seeds.

Fipronil (E)

Fipronil is a phenyl pyrazole insecticide used in agriculture, veterinary and home/garden situations. Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide that interferes with the central nervous system of insects. Formulations containing a fipronil concentration greater than 10% are classified as  Schedule 6 chemicals (i.e. carrying the signal heading poison) while formulations containing 0.05%-10% fipronil are classified as Schedule 5 chemicals (i.e. carrying the signal heading caution) in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP). Fipronil has been nominated for review because of environmental concerns.

Currently (April 2008) there are approximately 40 registered products that contain fipronil as the active constituent. Product types include home garden insecticides, termiticides and vertebrate poisons, commercial insecticides, seed treatments and home garden parasiticides for use on cats and dogs. In agricultural situations fipronil suspension concentrates and ultra low volume sprays are used to control insect pests on bananas, brassicas, cotton, wine grapevines, mushrooms, pasture, potatoes, sorghum and sugarcane.

In September 2003 the APVMA began a review of fipronil which is considering concerns over toxicity, primarily related to skin irritation and induction of skin sensitisation, but also the potential of fipronil to form toxic photodegradation products, occupational health and safety issues, animal safety and the adequacy of label instructions. The proposed environmental review will be a separate review to the current review focusing on toxicity concerns.

Mebendazole (HH)

Mebendazole is an anthelmintic used to treat animals for worms. Mebendazole is classified as either a Schedule 5 (Caution) or Schedule 6 (Poison) chemical in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP) depending on its concentration in the product; it has a low to moderate potential to cause harm. Mebendazole has been nominated for review because of human health concerns.

Mebendazole, a benzimidazole drug, is used to treat parasitic worm infestations as it selectively blocks the uptake of glucose and other nutrients by worms living in digestive tracts, which results in their eradication. Veterinary mebendazole products include oral pastes and pellets for dogs and horses and oral solution drenches for sheep.

Methomyl (HH, R)

Methomyl is a carbamate acaricide and insecticide used in agriculture and home/garden situations. Methomyl effectively kills insect pests on contact and can be absorbed into plants without a phytotoxic effect, thereby preventing insects from feeding on crops.  Unless used in fly baits with a concentration less than one percent (Schedule 6), methomyl is classified as a Schedule 7 chemical (i.e. carrying the signal heading dangerous poison) in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP). Therefore, methomyl has been assessed as having a high potential to cause harm at low concentrations. Methomyl has been nominated for review because of human health and residues concerns.

The use of methomyl is restricted in the United States due to human toxicity concerns. Methomyl products include aqueous concentrates, liquid concentrates, emulsifiable concentrates, soluble concentrations and soluble powders, all of which are sprayed onto crops. Methomyl products are used to control insect pests on a wide range of agricultural crops including cereals, cotton, fruit, ginger, legumes, mint, oil seed crops, tobacco, potatoes, vegetables, pastures, and peanuts.

Nicarbazin (HH)

Nicarbazin is a coccidiocide used to treat animals. Nicarbizin is classified as a substance not requiring scheduling in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP), and contains a low potential to cause harm. Nicarbazin has been nominated for review because of human health concerns.

Nicarbazin is only registered for use as an anticoccidial premix for broiler chickens. It is mixed with chicken feed for the prevention and control of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. Coccidiosis is a common disease of poultry and can result in a high death rate; coccidia parasites live in the gut wall of the host.

Profenofos (HH)

Profenofos is an organophosphorus insecticide used in agriculture. Profenofos is classified as a Schedule 6 poison in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP) and contains a moderate potential to cause harm. Profenofos has been nominated for review because of human health concerns.

Profenofos is a broad-spectrum insecticide formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate for use on cotton crops for the control of cotton bollworm, native budworm, mites and cotton aphids.

Propiconazole (HH)

Propiconazole is a triazole fungicide used in agriculture. In formulations containing a propiconazole concentration greater than 20% (which applies to most registered products) the product is classified as a Schedule 6 poison in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP) and therefore these products have been assessed as having a moderate potential to cause harm. Propiconazole has been nominated for review because of human health concerns.

Propiconazole is a systemic foliar fungicide with a broad spectrum of activity. Propiconazole inhibits the growth of fungi, and therefore prevents the infection of host tissue.

Propiconazole is predominately used in emulsifiable concentrate formulations in a wide range of horticultural crops, broad acre crops and pastures (including bananas, peanuts, perennial ryegrass, pineapples, stone fruit, sugar cane, oats and wheat) for the control of various fungal diseases. Propiconazole products are also used for the control of adhesion and penetration of mushroom mycelium in timber trays and for the control of dollar spot and spring dead spot in certain turf varieties.

Trichlorfon (E, HH, R)

Trichlorfon is organophosphorus insecticide used in agriculture, veterinary medicine and home/garden situations. Trichlorfon is classified as a Schedule 6 chemical (i.e. carrying the signal heading poison) in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP) and therefore has beena assessed as having a moderate potential to cause harm. Trichlorfon has been nominated for review because of environmental, human health and residue concerns.

Trichlorfon is a selective insecticide that is toxic to target insects by direct contact or by ingestion. Trichlorfon products are used in agriculture to control various insect pests in in a range of fruit and vegetable crops and in rice. Trichlorfon is also found in home garden products for the control of grubs and army worms in lawns. Trichlorfon parasiticide products include oral pre-mix powders, pellets and pastes which are used to control red worms, pin worms, round worms and bots in cattle and horses. Trichlorfon is also registered as a home garden parasiticide product for fish tanks.

Toltrazuril (HH)

Toltrazuril is an antiprotozoal-coccidiostat used to treat infected animals. Toltrazuril is classified as either a Schedule 5 (Caution) or Schedule 6 (Poison) in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP) depending on its concentration in the product, meaning it has a low to moderate potential to cause harm. Toltrazuril has been nominated for review because of human health concerns.

Toltrazuril is used as a oral solution/suspension to control coccidiosis in livestock. It is used to control coccidiosis caused by Eimeria bovis or Eimeria zeurnii in cattle up to the age of 9 months, Eimeria spp in broiler chickens and Isospora suis in neonatal piglets. Coccidiosis is caused by the coccidia parasites living in the intestinal tract of host

 

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