Australia suspends the registrations and label approvals of dichlorvos

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has suspended the registrations and label approvals of insecticide dichlorvos, for use on grain protection.The suspensions are in effect from 1 March 2013 until 3 March 2014.

The APVMA views that the use of dichlorvos in certain circumstances may be harmful to human health. As such, the APVMA has decided to suspend product registrations and associated label approvals, subject to specific instructions for use, until a new assessment of worker safety risks can be finalised. Registrants affected by these suspensions will be required to generate additional data as a condition of continued use during the suspension period.

During the period of suspension, a person can possess, have custody of, use or deal with the products in accordance with the instructions or permits issued by the APVMA.

The instructions or permits are as follow:

When using product for grain protection no individual worker involved in mixing and loading of dichlorvos EC formulations should handle more than 23 kg of dichlorvos per day or be involved in the activity for more than 30 days per year.

When using the EC1140 formulations, where possible, the product should be applied at the lower label rate of 6 grams per tonne of grain (ie., 0.5L of product used per 100 tonne grain) .

When opening the container and preparing the spray, workers must wear chemical resistant clothing buttoned to the neck and wrist, elbow length PVC gloves and a full facepiece respirator with combined dust and gas cartridge.

DO NOT allow entry into a treated area for ten hours after treatment and use treated grain for human consumption (or stockfeed) within 7 days or 28 days.

For BOC’s Insectigas-D DDVP fumigant, facilities should not be treated manually and banned re-entry within four days of fumigation.