Thiophanate-methyl
Thiophanate-methyl [dimethyl ((1,2-phenylene)bis(iminocarbonothioyl)) bis(carbamate)] is a systemic benzimidazole fungicide used in Australia to control soil borne diseases in ornamental plants.
Thiophanate-methyl breaks down in plants and the environment to form carbendazim and the use of thiophanate-methyl can lead to residues of carbendazim in treated commodities. For this reason the APVMA is conducting concurrent reviews of carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl.Thiophanate-methyl review
Status: review completed November 2010
In February 2007 the APVMA began a review of thiophanate-methyl because of occupational health and safety and public health concerns. (Residues were not included in this assessment as there are no products containing thiophanate-methyl that are currently registered for use on food producing plants). This action was based on advice from the Office of Chemical Safety and Environmental Health (OSCEH) (external site) that exposure to carbendazim and compounds that can form it (namely, benomyl and thiophanate-methyl) could possibly cause developmental abnormalities in experimental animals and hence might pose a potential public and occupational health and safety risk.
In August 2010, the APVMA released the Thiophanate-methyl Preliminary Review Findings Report (PDF, 712kb). To minimise the risks to people from the handling and use of thiophanate-methyl, the APVMA proposed amending existing product poison scheduling, label safety directions and re-entry intervals. In addition, the restraint “NOT FOR HOME GARDEN USE” is required.
Following a period of public consultation, comments were considered and all recommendations proposed in the PRF for thiophanate-methyl were incorporated into the Thiophanate-methyl Final Review Report and Regulatory Decision (released November 2010) (PDF, 743kb). A minor change was made to the restraint “NOT FOR HOME GARDEN USE” to appear as “DO NOT use this product in the home garden”.
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Thiophanate-methyl archive
| Title | Date |
|---|---|
| Frequently Asked Questions (updated Nov 2010) | Aug 2010 |
| Gazette Notice: Reconsideration of approvals and registrations related to carbendazim | Feb 2007 |