Australia to recall quintozene products

Manufacturers of the agricultural chemical, quintozene have initiated a voluntary recall following the suspension of all quintozene products in April by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

The voluntary recall is aimed at retail suppliers to remove all suspended quintozene products from sale.

"Manufacturers have shown a high degree of product stewardship in actively addressing an identified quality issue," said Neville Matthew, Program Manager, Regulatory Strategy and Compliance at the APVMA.

Quintozene was suspended by the APVMA in April following detection of dioxin impurities in some batches of quintozene products. It cannot be supplied in Australia until further notice.

"If users wish to dispose of any existing stocks, they can return suspended quintozene products to their retail supplier," advised Neville Matthew.

Quintozene is a fungicide previously used as a seed dressing, as a seedling drench, a pre-plant soil-applied fungicide for vegetables, cotton and ornamentals, and as a pre-emergent fungicide for cotton. It is also used to control fungal diseases on bowling greens and golf greens and for a small number of post-emergent uses on lettuce, peanuts, apples and ornamentals.

Retailers and users can contact product manufacturers for further information about the recall.