APVMA publishes final regulatory decision for malathion reconsideration

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has published the final regulatory decision for the reconsideration of malathion (also known as maldison), an insecticide used for the control of pests in various broadacre and horticultural crops, vegetables and ornamental plants, and for veterinary and domestic uses. 

The APVMA has decided to vary and affirm malathion active constituent approvals, chemical product registrations, and associated label approvals. These variations include:

• changing the name of the active constituent from ‘maldison’ to ‘malathion’ to harmonise with the name specified in ISO 1750-1981 

• removing uses to control mosquito larvae and prohibiting direct application to water due to the risks to aquatic species 

• updating the instructions for use, including protection statements, restraints, spray drift buffer zones, re-entry and withholding periods, safety directions, and storage conditions 

• including a provision for all products containing malathion as the active constituent to have a shelf life and for the associated expiry date to be included on labels. 

The APVMA’s decision includes consideration of all current active constituents, chemical products and associated labels. A summary of the underlying risk assessments has also been published in the final malathion Review Technical Report. This technical report also includes the APVMA’s consideration of submissions received during the public consultation on the malathion proposed regulatory decision. 

The APVMA has determined that a 2-year phase out period will apply to malathion products bearing the previously approved labels. After the 2-year phase out period ends, these products must be supplied with the new label that contains updated instructions.