Aldicarb review history and regulatory outcomes

Nomination for review

In December 1997 the APVMA announced its decision to review the registration of aldicarb. Aldicarb was nominated for review on environmental, public health and occupational exposure grounds. In the USA human poisoning incidents as well as bird kills had been linked with the use of aldicarb.

There was a concern that in high use situations, such as in citrus growing, there might be potential for water contamination. Contamination of ground water had been linked to the use of aldicarb in the USA.

Preliminary review

In April 2001 the APVMA released the Preliminary Review Findings Report* for public comment. In the preliminary review, the APVMA looked at a variety of issues and addressed risks to human health from exposure during use and from dietary residues, as well as risks to the environment.

The APVMA did not recommend the cancellation of any products or uses. The registrations and approvals for aldicarb products remained the same, with only minor label and maximum residue limit (MRL) changes being made.

Final review and outcomes

In July 2001 the APVMA released the Aldicarb Review Final Report. In final report, the APVMA found that considering its presentation in granular form and its application method and use pattern in Australia, there was little likelihood of adverse human health or environmental effects arising from its use. Therefore, there was no reason for the APVMA to discontinue the registration of aldicarb. The APVMA found that:

• aldicarb use is not expected to be harmful to public health
• workers who follow good agricultural practice and label instructions are not at risk from exposure
• the risk of water contamination is low under Australian conditions.

In the final report the APVMA recommended:

• changing product labels by:
  - strengthening first aid and safety directions, warning statements, and information on product labels for personal protective equipment and re-entry/re-handling periods
  - including an additional label warning: ‘dangerous to fish and aquatic invertebrates.’
• strengthening safety, training and supply requirements by:
  - modifying product containers to reduce the risk of exposure while handling
  - requiring that a person using, keeping or disposing of aldicarb products should have successfully completed an approved course of training and be issued with a specific certificate of accreditation.
• strengthening use patterns by:
  - not using aldicarb within 15 metres of any drinking well.
  - not using aldicarb within 150 metres of any drinking well where soils are sandy and the water tables are shallow.
• deleting MRLs for cereals, grapes, potatoes, and strawberry for which no registered use patterns exist.
• setting temporary MRLs for milks, meat, offal and sugar cane at or about the limit of analytical quantitation
• revising withholding and feeding restrictions. A withholding period for sugarcane is not required when aldicarb is used as directed. Cotton trash treated with aldicarb must not be fed to animals.
• monitoring the use of aldicarb in citrus crops until 2004. Use on citrus grown on sandy soil is the most likely situation to cause water contamination and the APVMA wanted to ensure that the levels of aldicarb used did not create a risk to the environment.

For more information please contact the Chemical Review Program on (02) 6210 4749 or by email to chemrev@apvma.gov.au

* Contact the APVMA for copies of this document.