Bifenthrin chemical review

Although bifenthrin is contained in more than 100 registered products, the action taken by the APVMA in early 2008 related only to those products containing bifenthrin at 80 g/L or 100 g/L for which a 500 mL pack size had been approved (seven products).

The concerns were that:

• such small pack sizes could find their way into the home garden market where they are available for use by householders (who are likely to find this pack size convenient for pest control)
• the toxicity of these products does not conform with the criteria outlined in the APVMA’s Manual of requirements and guidelines for pesticides intended for domestic use (Section 3.6 of Part 3, Toxicology)—the oral toxicities of the 500 mL products are generally around 500 mg/kg bw, well below the acceptable level of 1500 mg/kg bw for home garden products
• the use of such products would require the use of extensive personal protective equipment not readily available to householders
• some products contained a label claim for ‘post construction barrier treatments for the protection of existing buildings,’ but a 500 mL pack is too small to treat and protect a typically sized building.

Therefore, the concerns were about the product’s safety and effectiveness. Consequently, it was apparent that the packs do not comply with s.14(3)(e)(ii) of the Agvet Code.

The APVMA advised registrants that it could no longer be satisfied that the continued use of bifenthrin products (80 g/L or 100 g/L) in a 500 mL pack size would not be an undue hazard to the safety of users.