Monocrotophos chemical review

The APVMA reviewed the use of monocrotophos because of concerns about agricultural workers’ health and potential environmental effects. The review found that monocrotophos is toxic to aquatic invertebrates, birds and mammals.

No products containing monocrotophos are currently registered for use in Australia.

Monocrotophos has 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.

In July 1999, the APVMA released the Monocrotophos draft report. The report identified concerns about the possible risks to the public from short-term and long-term exposure, residues, worker safety, and the environment.

The report found that monocrotophos was toxic to aquatic invertebrates, birds and mammals. There were significant concerns about the lack of Australian environmental data and worker exposure data.

The review noted that there had been a steady decline in the use of monocrotophos, and that cheaper and more effective products were available. There had also been reports of increasing resistance in pest populations to monocrotophos and other organophosphorus compounds.

Because of data gaps, the APVMA asked registrants and key user groups to provide data to support this chemical. Advice from all areas consulted indicated that this chemical was not critical to their industry and that they were not willing or able to generate the data that had been requested.

In January 2000, the APVMA released the Monocrotophos review final report. The APVMA found that there was a significant lack of data about the use of monocrotophos in Australia and that neither registrants nor industry bodies were willing or able to generate the required data. Due to the lack of data, the APVMA was not satisfied that the use of monocrotophos would not pose an undue hazard to public health or the environment or prejudice Australian trade.

The APVMA was also not satisfied that the conditions of the registrations and approvals for monocrotophos could be varied to meet the current requirements for continued registration and approval.

In the review final report, the APVMA recommended:

• cancelling the active constituent approval and its importation, with effect from 9 December 1999
• cancelling all product registrations, with effect from 9 December 1999
• deleting maximum residue limits, with effect from 30 June 2002.