Completed

Mirex, an organochlorine available as the product Mirant, was a termiticide used to control the giant termite Mastotermes darwiniensis in horticultural crops and amenity trees in northern Australia.

No formal review of mirex was conducted, as there was only one registered product available and because it was destined for eventual phase-out because of Australia’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Furthermore, the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industries developed alternative methods to control the giant termite without using mirex.


Work Plan

Mirex, an organochlorine available as the product Mirant, was a termiticide used to control the giant termite Mastotermes darwiniensis in horticultural crops and amenity trees in northern Australia.

No formal review of mirex was conducted, as there was only one registered product available and because it was destined for eventual phase-out because of Australia’s obligations under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Furthermore, the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industries developed alternative methods to control the giant termite without using mirex.

Mirex
1. Nomination Completed

1. Nomination

Phase status: Completed

2. Prioritisation Completed

2. Prioritisation

Phase status: Completed

3. Scoping and work plan Completed

3. Scoping and work plan

Phase status: Completed

4. Notice of reconsideration Completed

4. Notice of reconsideration

Phase status: Completed

5. Assessment Completed

5. Assessment

Phase status: Completed

6. Proposed regulatory decision Completed

6. Proposed regulatory decision

Phase status: Completed

7. Consultation Completed

7. Consultation

Phase status: Completed

8. Final regulatory decision Completed

8. Final regulatory decision

Phase status: Completed

The registration of the Mirant product ceased after 30 June 2006. The APVMA reduced the phase-out period normally applicable to chemicals when their registration expires from two years to seven months. Thus, the use of the last mirex product on the Australian market finished on 31 January 2007.

No products containing mirex are currently registered for use in Australia.

9. Implementation Completed

9. Implementation

Phase status: Completed

The APVMA reduced the phase-out period to seven months after the registration had expired.

Publication Archive
Type Title Publication date
Gazette APVMA notice regarding agricultural chemical product mirant 5 February 2007
Gazette Mirant nonrenewal Gazette 5 September 2006