Diuron review history and regulatory outcomes

Nomination for review

In 1994 diuron was nominated for review as part of the Existing Chemicals Review Program (ECRP) established to systematically review a number of Agvet chemicals that had been on the Australian market for some time.

In 2002, the APVMA began a review of diuron over environmental and toxicity concerns. This action was prompted by advice from the former Department of the Environment and Heritage of the potential for environmental contamination, particularly in marine environments, from diuron run-off. Concerns were also raised by the Office of Chemical Safety (OCS) about the possible toxicity of some impurities in the active constituent.

Preliminary Review Findings Report

In 2005 the APVMA released the Diuron Preliminary Review Findings Report. The APVMA’s preliminary findings were that:

• impurities in the active constituent diuron do not pose a risk to human heath at existing levels
• diuron in water and soil run-off is a risk to the environment
• the risk to the environment can be reduced by decreasing the environmental load (through reducing application amounts of diuron)
• product labels do not contain adequate instructions for spray drift buffers.

In the preliminary report the APVMA proposed:

• varying product labels to:
  - reduce the maximum annual application of diuron to sugarcane, cotton, citrus, horticultural crops and general purpose non crop uses in order to reduce the environmental load
  - delete uses in irrigation channels and drainage ditches where an unacceptable environmental risk has been identified
  - add buffer zones for application of diuron to winter cereals and cotton
  - update labels to meet current standards and requirements.

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