Chlorpyrifos regulatory proposal puts safety first

Australia’s agvet chemical regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has today released its proposed decision on the reconsideration of the agricultural chemical, chlorpyrifos. 

The use of chlorpyrifos, an insecticide used for the control of pests in various agricultural, horticultural, commercial and veterinary situations, has been determined to pose risks to user safety and the environment. 

As a result, the APVMA is proposing a range of actions that would address those risks and ensure the ongoing safety of the Australian public, farmers, workers and the environment. 

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said chlorpyrifos was the first chemical in a series of eight currently being assessed by the APVMA.

The eight assessments were brought forward under a direction by Minister Watt, following a damning review by law firm Clayton Utz, which found that the reviews of those chemicals had been ongoing, in some cases, for over 20 years. 

“The safety review of chlorpyrifos has dragged on for over 17 years, so I am pleased to see it completed,” Minister Watt said. 

“I released a Ministerial Direction to the APVMA in July this year, outlining the eight priority chemicals that were long overdue for review.

“In some instances these chemicals had been awaiting review for more than two decades, so I am pleased that progress is beginning to be made. 

“We want to ensure we are staying up-to-date and comparable to our international regulatory counterparts.

“The proposed decision to cancel certain uses of chlorpyrifos aligns with action already taken by Canada, the USA and Europe.

“I look forward to seeing more progress for other chemicals included in my Direction next year.”

The Minister’s direction to bring forward the long-running chemical reviews followed Clayton Utz’s finding that the pace of the APVMA’s chemical review program was “not acceptable”, noting that “the protracted progression of the APVMA’s Chemical Review Program indicate[d] that the monitoring aspect of the APVMA’s regulatory activities [was] not a priority when compared with registrations and assessments”.

During the consultation period, registered chemical products containing chlorpyrifos can continue to be used in accordance with the approved label instructions. 

Public consultation on the proposed decision is open until 11 March 2024. 

Feedback will be reviewed once the consultation period has closed and a final regulatory decision will be made by the APVMA.