Minor Use News February 2004

Chemical Review Update

Agricultural and veterinary chemical products are not registered with the APVMA forever. The APVMA has powers to reconsider the registration of chemicals and the conditions for their use. The Chemical Review Process allows for the investigation of concerns about existing registered chemicals and determines whether such chemicals continue to meet contemporary standards for registration and approval.

The APVMA review teams are currently working on 30 chemical reviews involving more than 500 products. A summary of current reviews are as follows.

The APVMA is calling for information from registrants and/or the public for the following chemicals:

benomyl
chlorpyrifos
fipronil

The APVMA is currently considering information for the following chemicals:

Arsenic timber treatments (CCA)
atrazine
azinphos-methyl
carbaryl
carbon disulfide
chlorfenvinphos
diazinon
dichlorvos
dimetridazole
diquat
diuron
endosulfan
fenamiphos
fenitrothion
fenthion
macrolide antibiotics
maldison (malathion)
methadithion
methamidaphos
methiocarb
molinate
paraquat
parathion-methyl
sheep ectoparasiticides
virginiamycin

Arsenic based timber treatments (CCA)
In July 2003, the APVMA decided to accelerate the review of arsenic based timber treatment products and their labels due to concern that exposure of children to arsenic treated timber may pose an unacceptable health risk. The draft review report is currently available for public comment. Draft Report of the Review of Arsenic Treatment Products - call for comment by 29th February 2004.

Virginiamycin
The APVMA is currently assessing submissions on its draft review of products containing virginiamycin received from the public. The final review report is now being prepared and will take into consideration issues raised in the public submissions.

Want to know more?
Chemical review announcements are published through the APVMA Gazette that can be accessed on the APVMA website www.apvma.gov.au. Review scope documents, interim review reports, draft review reports and final review reports when they are available can also be found on the APVMA website.

For Further information on chemical reviews please contact Ph: (02) 6272 3213 or chemrev@apvma.gov.au or visit the APVMA website Chemical Review Program and Reports.