Completed
Metoxuron is a contact herbicide formerly used in Australia to control broadleaved weeds in carrots, parsnips, wheat and barley.
Work Plan
Metoxuron is a contact herbicide formerly used in Australia to control broadleaved weeds in carrots, parsnips, wheat and barley.
Metoxuron
1. Nomination
Completed
1. Nomination
Phase status: Completed
In April 1991, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) advised the Australian Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Council of concerns about the lack of toxicological data for metoxuron.
The NHMRC began a reconsideration of metoxuron in 1991 and requested more information from its registrants. The registrants failed to provide more information to support the existing maximum residue limits (MRLs), and in 1993 the NHMRC placed metoxuron in Appendix M of the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Drugs and Poisons, which included ‘substances for which registration cannot be supported by scheduling until further toxicological information becomes available’.
The primary registrant, Cropcare, voluntarily ceased local manufacture of all products containing metoxuron in 1989 and the sale of stocks by 1992. The product registrations were not renewed and field stocks were negligible by 1994.
In January 1994, the APVMA began a special review of metoxuron to formally consolidate the previous regulatory actions of the NHMRC and the Australian Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Council.
In January 1994, the APVMA (formerly the NRA) began a special review of metoxuron because of concerns over a lack of toxicological data.
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 APVMA completed the special review of metoxuron in February 1996 but did not publish a final report, as the primary registrant had withdrawn all products before the completion of the review. The APVMA found that there were insufficient toxicological data to support the existing MRLs for metoxuron.
In the report, the APVMA recommended:
- cancelling the active constituent approval, with effect from 31 March 1996
- cancelling all product registrations, with effect from 31 march 1996
- cancelling the MRLs for metoxuron, with effect from 31 March 1996.
The APVMA’s concerns about metoxuron remain and it will not consider the registration of any product containing metoxuron unless all the concerns identified in the review are fully addressed.
No products containing metoxuron are currently registered for use in Australia.