Reviews A-Z

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• Nominated
• Not Required
• Spray Drift

Chemicals Nominated for Review

Agricultural and veterinary chemicals nominated for review by the APVMA have been given a rank order of priority according to level of concern that led to the chemical being nominated. The priority given to chemicals is based on advice received from APVMA’s external advisory agencies: the Australian Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPC) and the Office of Chemical Safety and Environmental Health (OCSEH), as well as from the APVMA’s own residue chemists. Chemicals that have been prioritised for review are listed in the Priority Candidate Review List (PCRL).

The Priority Candidate Review List divides chemicals nominated for review into four priority groupings from Priority 1 to Priority 4. Priority 1 indicates the highest level of concern, but this does not necessarily mean that chemicals will be reviewed in strict order of priority.

Read more about how the APVMA prioritises nominated chemicals and see also Priority List for Spray Drift Label Reviews.

Notes:

Creosote: Issues associated with the nomination of creosote for review have now been considered and addressed; therefore creosote has been removed from the PCRL. See details of the review of creosote.

Profenofos: Since profenofos products are currently not being sold for their single registered use (control of pests in cotton), profenofos has been moved from the PCRL. See details of the review of profenofos.

Nicarbazin: Since the issues associated with the nomination of nicarbazin have been addressed without the need to proceed to a formal review, nicarbazin has been moved from the PCRL. See details of the Phase 2 assessments of nicarbazin.

Reviews Not Required

Parathion-methyl

On 26 July 2011, approval of the active constituent parathion-methyl was cancelled at the request of the approval holder. As a result of this voluntary cancellation, the APVMA is legally required to cancel the registration of all four parathion-methyl products, which are based on the now cancelled active constituent approval.

A two-year phase out period, ending on 26 July 2013, applies to the supply and use of existing stock of parathion-methyl products.

With approval for the active constituent parathion-methyl cancelled, the continuation of the review of parathion-methyl was no longer necessary. The APVMA released the Parathion-methyl Final Review Report in November 2011 for information purposes only.

Benethamine penicillin, chlordane, dinocap, heptachlor, pentachlorophenol, thiometon and lindane

In May 1995 benethamine penicillin, chlordane, dinocap, heptachlor, pentachlorophenol and thiometon were nominated for review as part of the former Existing Chemical Review Program (ECRP). These chemicals were nominated to ensure that they met contemporary standards of safety and performance, taking into account any new information and scientific data generated since their original registration.

In February 2006 the APVMA removed the first six of these chemicals from the nomination list as there were no longer any registered products formulated from these active constituents. Hence a review was no longer necessary.

In June 2010, following discussions with the APVMA and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the registrant of the sole remaining lindane product requested that its registration be cancelled. Hence lindane was removed from the Priority Candidate Review List (PCRL) as a review was no longer necessary.

Benethamine penicillin

Benethamine penicillin is an antibacterial used for veterinary treatment of food-producing animals.

Benethamine penicillin has an active constituent approval. Any applications for new products would be required to provide an appropriate data package to support product registration.

Chlordane

Chlordane is a cyclodiene insecticide (one of the so-called organochlorines) formerly used in agriculture and the home garden.

Chlordane is listed in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 this chemical is prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured and used in Australia. No further active constituent approvals, product registrations or permits will be issued for this chemical.

Dinocap

Dinocap is a contact fungicide and acaricide formerly used in agriculture.

Dinocap has an active constituent or manufacturing concentrate approval. Any applications for new products would be required to provide an appropriate data package to support product registration.

Heptachlor

Heptachlor is a non-systemic and contact cyclodiene insecticide (one of the so-called organochlorines) formerly used on agricultural crops and in the home garden.

Heptachlor is listed in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 this chemical is prohibited from being imported, exported, manufactured and used in Australia. No further active constituent approvals, product registrations or permits will be issued for this chemical.

Nicarbazin (HH)

Nicarbazin is a coccidiostat, which is mixed with feed for broiler chickens for the prevention and control of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. Nicarbazin is a 1:1 molar mixture of 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC) and 4,6-dimethyl-2-hydroxypyrimidine (HDP).  In 2006, nicarbazin was nominated for review because of:

• death of broiler chickens from accidental overdosing of the coccidiostat 
• concerns raised about its residue definition
• concerns raised about the dietary risk for humans who eat treated chickens

In December 2010, following a toxicological and residue assessment, numerous changes to the usage requirements and the label directions for nicarbazin products were approved by the APVMA.

Find out more about the changes to nicarbazin products, or see a full history of the Phase 2 assessment of nicarbazin.

Pentachlorophenol

Pentachlorophenol (PCP, pentachlorofenol) is an insecticide and fungicide formerly used as wood protectant. It has also been used as a pre-harvest defoliant, pre-emergence herbicide, and as an aquatic biocide.

This chemical is subject to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The export of PIC listed chemicals is subject to certain controls (see: http://www.daff.gov.au).

Pentachlorophenol has no active constituent approvals or registered products. Any applications for new products would be required to provide a complete package to support both active ingredient approval as well as product registration.

Profenofos (HH)

Profenofos is an organophosphorus insecticide used in agriculture. Profenofos is classified as a Schedule 6 poison in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP) and has a moderate potential to cause harm. Profenofos was nominated for review because of human health concerns.

In Australia it was formulated in emulsifiable concentrate products for use in cotton crops for the control of cotton bollworm, native budworm, mites and cotton aphids. Because the APVMA has been advised that profenofos is currently not being used by cotton growers, the APVMA has removed it from the Priority Candidate Review List. However, if profenofos products start to be used again, then the APVMA will re-instate it on the PCRL and will consider commencing a review, focusing on occupational and bystander health risks.

Thiometon

Thiometon is a systemic organothiophosphate acaricide and insecticide used in agriculture.

Thiometon has an active constituent or manufacturing concentrate approval. Any applications for new products would be required to provide an appropriate data package to support product registration.

Lindane

Lindane is an organochlorine insecticide and acaricide. For many years it had very limited use in Australia, with one available product available for control of white grubs and symphilids in pineapples. This product, an emulsifiable concentrate, was applied as a spray, incorporated into the soil as a pre-plant soil fumigant, or applied as a row treatment prior to planting.

Lindane is a Schedule 6 (Poison) in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP). Lindane was nominated for review because of human health concerns and thus was listed on the APVMA’s Priority Candidate Review List (PCRL).

In January 2010, following discussions with the APVMA and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry about the future of lindane, the sole registrant advised that the importation of lindane active constituent had ceased in 2009 and indicated that it wished to withdraw the registration of the product. The processes to cancel the sole remaining lindane product registration and remove the label from PubCRIS were completed on 7th June 2010.

Since there was no longer any need to review lindane, the APVMA removed it from the PCRL.

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