Chlorpropham chemical review

In 1997, the APVMA (formerly the NRA) began a review of chlorpropham because of concerns about a lack of supporting toxicological data. The former Drugs and Poisons Schedule Standing Committee of the National Health and Medical Council had placed chlorpropham in Appendix M of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP), which applied to ‘substances for which registration under agricultural and veterinary chemicals legislation cannot be supported by scheduling until further toxicological information becomes available’.

The review involved a consideration of all approved uses of the currently registered products, their associated labels and technical grade active constituent approvals.

In November 1997, the APVMA released the Chlorpropham review final report. The report was based on information obtained from a variety of sources, including scientific studies and other information submitted by registrants, contributions from members of the public, community and government organisations, and a search of the scientific literature.

The report established new occupational health and safety standards and maximum residue limits (MRLs). At about the same time as the review, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing [now called The Department of Health] established an acceptable daily intake for chlorpropham.

In the final report, the APVMA recommended:

• varying labels to include strengthened first aid instructions, safety directions and re-entry period statements
• varying labels to include strengthened MRLs for potatoes, onions (bulb) and garlic.

As an outcome of the review, the National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee placed chlorpropham in Schedule 5 of the SUSMP.