Mevinphos Chemical Review

In June 1995, the APVMA began a review of mevinphos. It was nominated for review because of concerns about possible risks to the public from short-term and long-term exposure to mevinphos (particularly its residues in food) and risks to worker safety and the environment.

In May 1997, the APVMA released the Mevinphos review report. Based on the findings of the review, the APVMA limited mevinphos to use on brassicas to control diamondback moth. The APVMA also varied the labels and registrations of the mevinphos product. However, the use of mevinphos beyond the end of 1998 was conditional on the provision of more information, particularly relating to safety in use, the environment, and residues.

In December 1998, the approvals and registrations associated with mevinphos were suspended until the APVMA received and assessed the new information. The owner (the registrant) of the remaining mevinphos product on the market later provided the data and the suspension was revoked in October 2002.

In October 2002, the Mevinphos supplementary review summary was released. The review found that mevinphos posed significant unacceptable risks to the health of users who mix, load and apply the chemical, and because of its high toxicity had the potential to adversely affect aquatic organisms.

However, the APVMA was satisfied that the labels of mevinphos products could be varied so that the continued use of the products would not be likely to have an adverse effect on the environment or on human health.

The APVMA recommended including stronger safety warnings on mevinphos product labels and changed the withholding periods for brassicas.

In the final review, the APVMA recommended that:

• the one remaining mevinphos product (Phosdrin insecticide) may only be used on brassicas for the control of diamondback moth in all states and the Australian Capital Territory, but not in the Northern Territory
• mevinphos be declared a restricted chemical product and that only authorised persons may use or supply it
• the mevinphos product be limited to a maximum use of three times per crop per season (a minimum interval of two weeks is necessary between applications to reduce the effect of spray drift on aquatic ecosystems)
• when applying the mevinphos product, it is necessary to have vehicles fitted with air-conditioned closed cabs with pesticide filters
• the mevinphos MRL for brassicas be 0.3 mg/kg, with a two-day withholding period before harvest.