Pesticide regulatory changes
Pesticide regulatory changes
Organophosphate and carbamates in pasture pest control products: conclusions of Environmental Protection Authority review
Several insecticides have been banned by the EPA on the ground of their high toxicity to human health or the environment, and the EPA will phase out others used for plant and crop protection.
The EPA has withdrawn approval for insecticides or formulations containing 10 of the active ingredients approved until now. Seven others, including diazinon, are to be phased out over a period of up to 15 years. Controls on the use of the other substances (except for fenitothion and phorate, for which the current controls won't be changed) are to be tightened in two years (start date 1 July 2015). If you, or your staff, apply pesticide to pasture, make sure you check out the new controls.
The EPA now intends to review the use of organophosphates and carbamates in veterinary products such as sheep dips.
A summary table showing the outcomes for the pesticides that drystock farmers typically use is shown below.
Pesticide | Target pest | Result |
Chlorpyrifos methyl | Argentine stem weevil, Grass grub, Clover root weevil, Sitona weevil, Porina species, Springtail, Aphids | Retained with more controls |
Diazinon | Grass grub, Porina species, Springtail, Aphids | Retained with more controls for 15 years only (to 1 July 2028) |
Dichlorvos | Aphids | Retained with more controls |
Dimethoate | Springtail, Aphids | Retained with more controls |
Fenamiphos | Nematodes (worms) | Retained with more controls for 10 years only (to 1 July 2023) |
Fenitrothion | Sitona weevil, Porina species, Springtail, Aphids | Retained under existing controls for 3 years only (to 1 July 2016) |
Maldison (malathion) | White butterfly, Black field cricket, Aphids | Retained with more controls – except approval of dustable powder containing combination of maldison, carbaryl and rotenone declined |
Methamidophos | Aphids | Retained with more controls for 10 years only (to 1 July 2023) |
Oxamyl | Argentine stem weevil | Retained with more controls |
Phorate | Argentine stem weevil, Grass grub, Springtail, Aphids | Retained under existing controls for 3 years only (to 1 July 2016) |
Pirimicarb | Aphids | Retained with more controls |
Terbufos | Argentine stem weevil, Grass grub, Springtail, Aphids | Retained with more controls for 10 years only (to 1 July 2023) |
Pirimiphos-methyl | White butterfly | Retained with more controls |
