Carbon disulfide chemical review

In July 2003, the APVMA (formerly the NRA) began a review of carbon disulfide. Carbon disulfide was nominated for review because of concerns over toxicology, occupational health and safety, residues in food, the explosive nature of carbon disulfide under certain circumstances, and the adequacy of label instructions.

In 2003, only two carbon disulfide products were registered in Australia, Ajax Carbon Disulphide Grain Fumigant Ready-To-Use Liquid (a grain fumigant) and C.S.S.P. Phosphorus Pig Poison (a pig poison). The review focused on the registration and associated labels of the two products.

In December 2002, the registration of the grain fumigant had been suspended because of concerns over the potential for the product to explode and pose a risk to workers. Before beginning the review, the APVMA issued modified use instructions to allow the continued supply and use of the product; those instructions remained in force during the review.

In July 2003, the APVMA began a review of carbon disulfide. Carbon disulfide was nominated for review because of concerns over toxicology, occupational health and safety, residues in food and the adequacy of instructions and warnings on product labels, particularly in relation to its explosive risks.

In August 2004, the APVMA released the Carbon disulfide draft review report. A key concern was the risk to workers from the grain fumigant’s potential to explode. The APVMA concluded that the existing label instructions for both the pig poison and the grain fumigant were inadequate to protect workers.

The APVMA proposed a number of changes to the labels of carbon disulfide products to reduce risks to workers and the environment and to reduce residues in commodities. The changes included varying product labels to include warnings of the potential for explosion, strengthening safety instructions and improving personal protection requirements. These changes were in addition to the modified use instructions that were put in place in December 2002.

In the draft review report the APVMA also proposed revoking the December 2002 suspension of the registration and label approvals for Ajax Carbon Disulphide Grain Fumigant Ready-to-Use Liquid.

In April 2005, the APVMA released the Carbon disulfide preliminary findings review report for public comment. The APVMA concluded that the two carbon disulfide products did not contain adequate label instructions. The APVMA proposed varying the approved product labels to include new use instructions.

In December 2004, the registrant of the grain fumigant asked the APVMA to cancel the registration of its product, Ajax Carbon Disulphide Grain Fumigant Ready-to-Use Liquid.

The review continued after the cancellation of the grain fumigant, but dealt only with the use of carbon disulfide as a feral pig poison in the C.S.S.P. Phosphorus Pig Poison product.

In October 2005, the APVMA released the Carbon disulfide review final report. The APVMA found that it was not satisfied that existing labels contained adequate instructions to ensure the safety of workers and public health.

However, the APVMA was satisfied that the approved labels for the C.S.S.P Phosphorus Pig Poison product could be varied to allow the continued registration of the product.

In the final report, the APVMA recommended varying the current approved product label to include:

• greater minimum distances for laying pig poison near homes, water supplies, public roads and property boundaries
• indications of areas where pig poison may not be laid, including areas where the minimum distance restrictions cannot be met
• a requirement to notify the public before laying poison (landholders must put up notices warning that pig poison has been laid on the property and give at least three days notice to anyone whose property boundaries are within four kilometres of the outermost baiting line)
• advice on the placement, timing and use of bait material and the recovery of poison/bait and carcasses
• a requirement to report any suspected incidents of non-target animal poisoning to state or territory authorities
• additional safety directions, precautionary statements and first aid instructions.