In April 2002, the APVMA began a review of methamidophos because of concerns about its high acute and chronic toxicity and its potential to cause delayed neurotoxicity. This action was based on advice from the Therapeutic Goods Administration that methamidophos may pose a potential hazard to public health and should be re-evaluated using contemporary data and assessment standards.
Methamidophos has also been listed as a chemical subject to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (the Rotterdam Convention). Australia became a party to the convention on 18 August 2004.
Prior informed consent promotes a shared responsibility between exporting and importing countries in protecting human health and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of certain hazardous chemicals that are being traded internationally. It allows countries to make informed decisions about the chemicals they import and contributes to the management of chemical risk.
Methamidophos is included in the prior informed consent procedure (in soluble liquid formulations that exceed 600 grams of active ingredient) because of its acute hazard classification and concerns about its impact on human health under conditions of use in developing countries.