Australia to tighten controls to limit 2,4-D spray drift risk

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has commenced a review of spray drift risk associated with the use of the herbicide 2,4-D, as part of a sweeping spray drift mitigation program designed to tighten controls on the way more than two thousand products are used in Australia.

2,4-D is commonly used for the selective control of annual and perennial broadleaf weeds in an extensive range of crops and non-cropping situations.

Spray drift is the movement of pesticide droplets in the wind to places outside the intended area of application during and shortly after application.

2,4-D has been of particular concern from a spray drift perspective and has been implicated in significant damage to cotton and to grapes as well as to landscaping and tree plantings, APVMA spokesperson Dr David Loschke said today.

The APVMA has conducted a scientific risk analysis for all agricultural products containing 2,4-D and found that it can pose risks to aquatic organisms, non-target terrestrial vegetation and neighbouring crops.

On this basis, the APVMA has commenced a review of some one hundred and eighty 2,4-D products that will consider whether these product labels carry adequate instructions and warning statements to address spray drift risk.

The review process will occur quickly with the aim of having amended labels with new instructions on 2,4-D products ready by the spring 2010 planting season.

These amended label instructions may require protective no-spray zones, regulation of droplet size and other restrictions to reduce spray drift, Dr Loschke said.