Carbendazim
Carbendazim (methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate) is a systemic benzimidazole fungicide used to control a broad range of diseases on pulses, fruits, macadamias, turf, ornamentals and vegetables. It is also used in post-harvest food storage, as a pre-planting ginger and sugar cane treatment and as a timber treatment fungicide.
Important Notice for carbendazim retailers and users
The APVMA has been undertaking a review of the fungicide carbendazim. As part of this review it has been determined that the label instructions for products containing carbendazim were inadequate.
Accordingly the APVMA has issued new instructions for carbendazim products that must be supplied with all new product from the manufacturer unless already included in new label approvals.
- Information for retailers of carbendazim products
- Information for users of horticulture and turf products containing carbendazim
- Information for users of timber treatment products containing carbendazim
These instructions continue to apply during the public comment period for the preliminary review findings.
Carbendazim review
Status: review in progress - comments on the Preliminary Review Findings have now closed
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 and Environmental Health (OCSEH) (external site) that exposure to carbendazim and compounds that can form it (namely, benomyl) could cause developmental abnormalities in experimental animals and hence might pose a potential public and occupational health and safety risk to people.
The APVMA has completed assessments of the data provided for this review and has released the Preliminary Review Findings (PDF, 624kb) | (RTF, 589kb) for public comment. The period for public submissions and the submission of additional information closes 5 August 2011.
These preliminary review findings support previous interim review actions taken by the APVMA. In May 2007 the APVMA suspended the label approvals of carbendazim products and issued new instructions for use that provided revised safety directions for use of the product and a birth defects warning statement, to be attached to the container.
In January 2010 the APVMA applied a new suspension that extended the warnings and amended the instructions of use as follows:
- Amend the signal heading from Schedule 6 to Schedule 7, (and include appropriate storage instructions).
- removal of pre and post-harvest uses of carbendazim on grapes, cucurbits, citrus fruit, custard apples, mangoes, all pome fruit , stone fruit, and all uses on turf;
- extension of the existing warning statement to include the observed occurrence of male infertility in laboratory animals; and
- continue the safety directions established in the May 2007 suspension
These new instructions effectively discontinued pre and post-harvest use of carbendazim on grapes, cucurbits and melons, citrus fruit, custard apple, mango, pome fruit, stone fruit and turf.
The suspension instructions also had the effect of restricting access to carbendazim products to suitably trained and competent people authorised to purchase and use Schedule 7 products.
The preliminary review findings support these interim actions and additionally propose the:
- removal of uses of carbendazim products on roses because of OHS concerns
- removal of uses of carbendazim on bananas, strawberries, pastures (including clovers), ginger and sugar cane unless suitable residues data is made available
- minor revisions of the safety directions established in the May 2007 suspension
- Addition of re-entry intervals to the labels for agricultural uses
The APVMA can be satisfied that the use of carbendazim products according to these proposed variations to labels does not pose an unacceptable hazard to human health.
The scope of this current review does not include environmental assessments. However carbendazim has been placed on a priority list for specific label review to establish spray drift buffer zones.
The APVMA will issue a final report once the assessment of all available data is completed.
Contact
For more information contact:
Product Search
Search the PUBCRIS database for registered products that contain carbendazim.
Note: In the Active Constituent 1 field enter carbendazim.