Carbaryl chemical review

In 1995, the APVMA began a review of carbaryl due to concerns that residues in treated cereals may exceed the maximum residue limits (MRLs) and concern over a lack of MRLs for animals fed on treated cereal products. The review of carbaryl was extended in 1999 and 2003, based on new information that identified concerns about the risks to people from its use in the home garden and from potential residues in produce.

All assessment reports are accessible from the Publication archive

Background

In June 2004 the APVMA released the Draft Review Report for all uses of carbaryl, which recommended the cancellation of some use patterns and the tightening of restrictions on others

After the release of the Draft Report (June 2004) for carbaryl, it was determined that further assessments were required for the agricultural products. As a result the APVMA split the carbaryl review into two parts, with Part 1 considering home garden, home veterinary, poultry and domestic uses, and the Part 2 considering agricultural uses.

Carbaryl review—Part 1: Uses of carbaryl in home garden, home veterinary, poultry and domestic situations

In April 2006 the APVMA released the Review Findings for Part 1 of the Carbaryl review which outlined the APVMA findings for Part 1 of the review, including new information or assessments relevant to Part 1 of the review that followed the publication of the Draft Findings in 2004.

Carbaryl review—Part 2: Uses of carbaryl in agricultural situations

In July 2006, the APVMA released the Carbaryl preliminary review findings report: Part 2 and associated Technical report. The APVMA found that some uses, application methods and formulations of products containing carbaryl posed a potential risk to the safety of people.

The APVMA proposed cancelling some uses and application methods, strengthening engineering controls to protect users, and including stronger safety directions and warning statements on product labels.

Carbaryl review—Part 1: Uses of carbaryl in home garden, home veterinary, poultry and domestic situations

In January 2007, the APVMA released the Carbaryl final review report and regulatory decision: Part 1 and the supporting Technical report and Review findings. The APVMA found that there were insufficient data to assess the potential risks and to support the continued use of products containing carbaryl on home garden food crops (fruit and vegetables) and for home veterinary dusting powders. As a result of the Part 1 review of carbaryl, the APVMA cancelled home garden uses on fruit and vegetables and the use of carbaryl dusts; restricted domestic and home garden products to a maximum carbaryl concentration of 160 g/kg (or g/L); and strengthened the warning statements and safety directions for carbaryl use.

Carbaryl review—Part 2: Uses of carbaryl in agricultural situations

In August 2012, the APVMA published the Final review report and regulatory decision: Part 2, the Toxicology and OHS report, and the Residues technical report.  The APVMA considered public submissions and additional residues data received after the release of the Preliminary review findings report: Part 2. The final review findings report includes an updated dietary exposure assessment using FSANZ’s 2009 consumption figures.

As a result, changes were made to the outcomes proposed in the Preliminary review findings report: Part 2:

• Uses on storage grains and cereals (post-harvest) were deleted due to dietary exposure concerns
• The withholding period for raspberries was increased from three to seven days
• Use on strawberries was limited to commercial runner production (that is, non-fruiting plants)
• Withholding periods of three days for avocados and seven days for mangoes were set
• Uses on oranges, lemons and sweet potato were retained.

In addition the APVMA noted as follows:

• The use of wettable powder formulations by handheld application to garden beds, compost heaps and treatment around buildings could be retained provided that the wettable powder formulation is supplied in measured water-soluble packaging
• Re-entry periods for tree crops and all other crops can be one day, based on the likely exposure of workers
• Engineering controls are not required for operators applying carbaryl by orchard airblast
• The use of enclosed transfer/mixing systems for the preparation of carbaryl suspension concentrate products is not required for boom spray and orchard airblast application.

Part 1 of the review of carbaryl was finalised in January 2007. The APVMA cancelled certain home garden dusts and veterinary products, varied the labels of other products to delete use on food crops in the home garden and cancelled the older labels of those products. Affected products and labels are listed in the APVMA Gazette Notice of 2 January 2007.

The phase out period for possession and use of those products and labels cancelled in January 2007 was two years (ending January 2009).

In Part 2 of the review, the holders of product registrations voluntarily amended product labels so that the use instructions were consistent with the recommendations of the review. In August 2012 the APVMA finalised Part 2 of the review and affirmed these product registrations and new labels. The APVMA cancelled the older labels for those products. Affected products and labels are listed in the APVMA Gazette Notice of 14 August 2012.

The phase out period for possession and use of products bearing those cancelled labels was two years (ending 14 August 2014).

As all phase out periods have ended, carbaryl products must only be used according to instructions in a currently approved label or current permit.