Information provided by the APVMA

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the national regulator for agricultural and veterinary chemical products. Before an agricultural chemical product can be sold or used in Australia the APVMA must be satisfied that it meets minimum safety and efficacy standards and does not pose an undue risk to Australia’s international trade. When assessing chemical product safety, the APVMA considers safety to users (worker exposure), consumers (through residues in food), and to the environment.

Sometimes, new information shows that a chemical product might not be as safe as was first thought. If this happens, the APVMA can reconsider whether chemical products still meet the safety, efficacy and trade criteria.

Paraquat and diquat products have been reconsidered by the APVMA, with a proposed decision published in the APVMA Special Gazette on 30 July 2024. The APVMA reviewed these products against contemporary standards because of concerns about the risk to human health, the environment, and trade.

The APVMA is proposing to vary the instructions for use of paraquat and diquat, or products with a combination of both chemicals. The proposed decision would result in a reduction in the amount of paraquat able to be used in banana plantations and limit the application equipment to hand-held inter-row applications. Use of diquat, and paraquat plus diquat chemical products is not supported due to the potential effects on native wild mammals and birds that feed in the treated areas.

To further protect workers from exposure to the concentrated product, the APVMA is proposing to restrict the use of paraquat and diquat to closed mixing and loading systems in all situations. A summary of which uses are supported in this proposed decision is available on the APVMA website.

If the final decision is to remove various uses of paraquat and diquat from product labels, the APVMA is proposing a 24-month phase out period to allow products currently on farms or in the retail supply chain to be used in accordance with the currently approved labels.

Public consultation on this proposed decision is open until 29 October 2024. The APVMA encourages submissions during this period. The APVMA will consider all information received and whether it affects the risk assessments or underlying scientific modelling that the proposed decision is based on. Instructions for how to make a submission are available on the APVMA website.