Carbendazim

Carbendazim (methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate) is a systemic benzimidazole fungicide used to control a broad range of diseases on cereals, fruits, cotton, tobacco, turf, ornamentals and vegetables. It is also used in post-harvest food storage, as a seed pre-planting treatment and as a timber treatment fungicide.

In addition to being a fungicide in its own right, carbendazim is a metabolite of thiophanate-methyl. Thiophanate breaks down rapidly in the environment to carbendazim and the use of thiophanate-methyl can lead to residues of carbendazim in treated commodities. The APVMA is conducting concurrent reviews of carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl.

Carbendazim review

Status: review in progress

In February 2007 the APVMA began a review of carbendazim because of occupational health and safety, residue and public health concerns. This action was based on advice from the Office of Chemical Safety (OCS) that that exposure to carbendazim and compounds that can form it (namely, benomyl and thiophanate-methyl) could cause developmental abnormalities in experimental animals and hence might pose a potential public and occupational health and safety risk.

The APVMA released the Carbendazim and Thiophanate-methyl Review Scope Document (February 2007) which outlined the information needed to conduct a comprehensive scientific assessment of carbendazim and included a call for public submissions. The period for public comments and the submission of additional information closed on 30 June 2007.

Following the assessment the APVMA will release a preliminary review findings (PRF) report outlining the proposed regulatory arrangements for the future use of carbendazim. There will be a public consultation period providing all members of the community with an opportunity to comment on this report before it is finalised.

The APVMA will issue a final report once the assessment of all available data is completed.

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

Subscribe to keep up to date with progress of the carbendazim review

Review report	Date
Carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl Scope Document ( PDF - 204KB)	Feb 2007

Product search

Search the PUBCRIS database for registered products that contain carbendazim.
Note: In the Active Constituent 1 field enter carbendazim.

APVMA carbendazim archive

Title	Date
Gazette Notice: Suspension of label approvals of products containing carbendazim( PDF - 44KB)	June 2007
FAQ ( PDF - 36KB)	May 2007
Gazette Notice: Reconsideration of approvals and registrations related to carbendazim	Feb 2007