Chlorpyrifos chemical review

Chlorpyrifos active constituents, chemical products and labels were nominated for review in response to an invitation to the public by the APVMA (then the NRA) on 1 November 1994. Eighty of the nominated chemicals, including chlorpyrifos, were included in the priority candidate review list published in the Gazette on 2 May 1995.

The scope of the review includes reconsideration of chlorpyrifos active constituents, chemical products and labels through assessments related to toxicology, work health and safety, chemistry, residues and environment.

The work plan was first published on 1 July 2015.

The s 32 notice of reconsideration for active constituents, chemical products and labels for chlorpyrifos was published in the Gazette on 3 December 1996.

The s 32 notice of reconsideration was given to holders and chemical coordinators of the states and territories on commencement of the review on 5 July 1996.

Public comment was sought on in the Gazette on 1 February 2000.

Additional s 32 notices were sent to holders on 1 July 2015, 10 May 2016, 7 August 2017, 30 January 2018, 30 August 2018 and 6 October 2023 to include all approved actives and registered products in the review.

An s 33 notice was sent to a holder on 25 January 2023 to request additional environmental data.

In January 2000, the APVMA (then known as NRA) released a chlorpyrifos interim review report, which summarised the outcomes of interim chemistry, agricultural, toxicological, occupational health and safety and environmental assessment reports.

Additional residues data subsequently submitted to the APVMA formed the basis of a preliminary review findings report on additional residues data (2009).

In April 2017, the APVMA published the supplementary toxicology assessment report. 

In 2019, the APVMA published a toxicology update. 

The APVMA published an updated residential exposure and public space use exposure assessment and risk characterisation update in 2019. The APVMA also published a supplementary environment assessment report for home garden, domestic and certain non-agricultural uses in 2019.

The APVMA published the draft Review Technical Report in December 2023.

The APVMA published the Chlorpyrifos Final Review Technical Report in October 2024.

In September 2000, the APVMA released the chlorpyrifos interim review report.

In September 2009, the preliminary review findings report was released.

The proposed regulatory decisions for the reconsideration of chlorpyrifos have been divided into 2 stages.

The APVMA published stage one of the chlorpyrifos Proposed Regulatory Decision (PRD) in relation to domestic, home garden and certain public space situations on 24 June 2019 for a 3-month consultation period.

34AB notices were given to holders and nominated agents and published in the Special Gazette of 24 June 2019.

The APVMA published the proposed regulatory decision (PRD) for stage 2 of the chlorpyrifos reconsideration in an APVMA Gazette on 12 December 2023.

The legislated timeframe for consultation following publication of the proposed regulatory decision is 3 months.

A 3 month public consultation (from 24 June through 23 September 2019) was held on the stage one proposed regulatory decision to cancel domestic and home garden products. A public consultation on critical uses for biosecurity, agriculture, or commercial purposes was held from 22 July through 22 September 2019.

A 3 month public consultation (from 12 December 2023 through to 11 March 2024) was held for the stage 2 proposed regulatory decision.

The APVMA received a number of submissions during the public consultation period, including 11 submissions which the APVMA received permission to publish.

Submissions are published on the APVMA website, excluding those requested to remain confidential. A summary of the submissions and the APVMA’s response to the matters raised is also provided in the Chlorpyrifos Final Review Technical Report.

Stage one of the reconsideration of chlorpyrifos

Stage one of the reconsideration of chlorpyrifos is complete.

An interim regulatory decision under s 41 of the Code was made to suspend the label approvals of chlorpyrifos products with home and domestic garden uses, which was given to holders and nominated agents and published in the Special Gazette of 25 July 2019. The suspension decision gave effect to PER88402 (in effect from 25 July 2019 through 24 July 2020).

The final regulatory decision to cancel all remaining combination products was published in the Gazette on 28 July 2020.

A final regulatory decision under s 34AA of the Code was made to cancel the registrations of all chlorpyrifos home and domestic garden use products, which was given to holders and nominated agents and published in the Special Gazette of 25 September 2019.

Stage 2 of the reconsideration of chlorpyrifos

The final regulatory decision for the chlorpyrifos reconsideration was made on 30 September 2024, which was to:

• vary and affirm active constituent approvals that comply with specific purity requirements under s 34 and s 34A of the Agvet Code
• vary and affirm chemical product registrations and associated label approvals where at least one use pattern is proposed to be supported under s 34 and s 34A of the Agvet Code
• cancel remaining active constituent approvals, chemical product registrations and associated label approvals under s 34AA of the Agvet Code.

This decision was made after consideration of all public consultation submissions received and refinement of the scientific risk assessments. The APVMA’s response to matters raised in the submissions, details on to how the risk assessments have been revised, and the revised risk assessments and revised risk assessment outcomes are summarised in the Chlorpyrifos Final Review Technical Report.  A summary of the chlorpyrifos uses, and whether they were supported or not supported in this decision, is also available on the APVMA website.

Notice of the chlorpyrifos reconsideration final regulatory decision was given to holders and published in the Special Gazette of 3 October 2024.

On 30 September 2024, the APVMA made the final regulatory decision for the reconsideration of chlorpyrifos.

The approvals and registrations listed in Table 1 below have been varied and then affirmed.

Labels for products containing chlorpyrifos as an active constituent have been varied as a result of the decision. The APVMA has determined that products bearing previous labels may continue to be supplied for 1 year from the date of the final regulatory decision, under section 81(3) of the Agvet Code. Products bearing previously approved labels must not be supplied after 30 September 2025.

Table 1: Chlorpyrifos active constituent approvals, product registrations and label approvals that have been varied and then affirmed

The approvals and registrations listed in Table 2 below have been cancelled.

A deemed permit is in force that authorises possession, custody, and supply of the cancelled active constituents, chemical products and products bearing the previously approved labels for one year from the date of cancellation. Instructions for possession, custody, use and supply are provided in the Special Gazette of 30 September 2024. After 30 September 2025, which is one year from the date of cancelation, it will be an offence to have possession or custody of, supply, or to use the cancelled active constituents, chemical products and products bearing the previously approved labels in Table 2 below.

Table 2: Chlorpyrifos active constituent approvals, product registrations and label approvals that have been cancelled