APVMA decision to immediately cancel all products with chlorthal dimethyl

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has cancelled all 12 products containing the herbicide chlorthal dimethyl. This follows the recent United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) emergency order to stop use of chlorthal dimethyl (DCPA), also known as Dacthal, in the US.

Chlorthal dimethyl is a herbicide used in vegetable crops, lawns and cotton that is currently in 12 products available in Australia.

APVMA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Scott Hansen, said the APVMA identified an immediate risk of serious injury or serious illness which could result from use of these products.

″The APVMA has the power to act swiftly where we identify an imminent risk to human health and we are exercising that authority today with the cancellation of all products containing chlorthal dimethyl,″ said Mr Hansen.

″We haven’t taken this decision lightly and are exercising a high degree of caution in cancelling these products and ask those who hold them to cease use immediately. We will issue information on the product recall requirements shortly.″

Mr Hansen said this decision brings Australia into alignment with international counterparts and reiterated that there is no phase out period for the products due to the risk to human health.

″The APVMA considers the risk of continued use to be unacceptable as the risk of exposure cannot be effectively mitigated.

″The primary risk is to pregnant people’s unborn babies, particularly where those people have handled the chemical or re-entered areas where the product has been used within the last 5 days.

″We understand the impact that this regulatory decision will have on industry, but the safety of people is of paramount importance.″

Farmers and retailers may continue to hold product until further notice, but must not use it. The use of chlorthal dimethyl as an agricultural chemical product is now illegal.

Products cancelled:

Details are published in the Special Gazette, Thursday 10 October 2024.