APVMA extends suspension of fungicide quintozene

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has decided to extend the suspension of the ai approvals for quintozene, and the product registrations and label approvals of products containing quintozene. The approval suspension is in effect from February 14^th  2015 until November 13^th 2015. 

 

The agency became aware of information in 2009 indicating the presence of undeclared dioxins as impurities in products that contain quintozene as the ai. On this basis, the APVMA suspended quintozene active approvals effective from April 9^th 2010 until July 14^th 2014, followed by another suspension until February 14^th 2015. 

 

Dioxins are listed as toxicologically significant impurities in the Definition of Standards for Active Constituents. The APVMA considers that quintozene may be an undue hazard to the safety of people exposed to it during its handling and may have an effect that is harmful to human beings.