APVMA set to suspend use of diuron

The nation's chemical regulator has proposed a suspension on the use of the herbicide diuron.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is responding to a Commonwealth environmental assessment report that found the rate of its current use presents a risk to marine life.

Diuron is used to control weeds in sugar cane, citrus, cotton, broadacre and horticultural crops.

The authority's Felicity McDonald says grower groups have until August 12 to present information to the authority, before it decides whether to suspend use of the chemical.

"Our advice from the Environment Department is that these risks are unacceptable, so what we're doing is we've put chemical companies on notice that we're proposing to suspend most uses and the suspension period will allow us to address the identified risks, while considering any new information that may alter the environment findings and recommendations."

Australia's sugar cane growers are worried a suspension of diuron will leave them without a major tool for weed control.

Steven Greenwood, the chief executive officer of the industry's lobby group, Canegrowers, says growers have already reduced their usage rates of the chemical.

"The maximum label rate of the herbicide is around about 3.6 kilograms per hectare," he said.

"We're already down to 1.8 kilograms, so we've already halved that through voluntary methods.

"We've moved a long way, but I don't think that's accurately reflected in the report that was recently released by the APVMA."