In June 2007, the APVMA suspended carbendazim labels to revise the safety directions for carbendazim and added a birth defects warning statement to all labels.
In January 2010, the APVMA again suspended labels to add instructions for use that amended the signal heading from Schedule 6 to Schedule 7, extended the warning statement to include male infertility in laboratory animals, and discontinued pre-harvest and post-harvest uses of carbendazim on grapes, cucurbits, melons, citrus fruit, custard apple, mango, pome fruit, stone fruit, as well as all instructions for use on turf.
The review of carbendazim was completed and the final Review findings report was published on 15 August 2012. At this time, in addition to the previous action to amend labels and remove uses on grapes, cucurbits, melons, citrus fruit, custard apple, mango, pome fruit, stone fruit and turf:
- the use of carbendazim products on roses was removed from labels because of occupational health and safety concerns
- the use of carbendazim on bananas, strawberries, pastures (including clovers), ginger and sugarcane, was removed from labels as suitable residues data was not made available
- The safety directions on labels were revised and re-entry intervals added to label instructions
Six products were cancelled by the APVMA because their approved labels did not include any of the remaining approved use patterns for carbendazim, and 12 products were affirmed following variation of their labels as described above.
Eight active constituent approvals for carbendazim were affirmed following the finalisation of the review.
Affected actives, products and labels are listed in the APVMA Gazette Notice of 14 August 2012.