0
Home
News
Directory
E-newsletter
Magazine
Events
Data
AgReport
Subscribe
Australia to end atrazine review
Feb. 17, 2008
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) expects to conclude its lengthy review of the herbicide, atrazine, during the first quarter of this year. The APVMA has come under criticism for the time taken to implement the findings of a draft review that was issued in 2004. Australian Agriculture Minister Tony Burke has urged the APVMA to implement its recommendations "as a matter of priority", the Minister is reported as saying in The Australian newspaper.
The 2004 review confirmed earlier findings that atrazine was unlikely to be hazardous to the environment or human health. It proposed label amendments to reduce the likelihood of the herbicide entering waterways, a 28-day withholding period for grazing on all crops except canola, and requirements to report incidents of herbicide resistance or breakdowns in efficacy. However, implementation was delayed because of continued uncertainty over the effect of atrazine on frogs and possible implications for human health, the APVMA points out.
New research findings on atrazine risks to frogs continue to be "contradictory and controversial and no clear consensus among scientific experts has yet emerged", the APVMA says. At a community forum held last year, all parties agreed that lack of certainty on some issues should not be a reason for delaying action in other areas where firm conclusions have already been reached. The APVMA will therefore conclude its atrazine review, but will seek further scientific advice on the effects of triazine herbicides on frogs and cultured animal and human cells. The APVMA will consider further regulatory measures for this group of herbicides if appropriate.
Source: APVMA
More from AgroNews
Change
Hot TopicSubscribe
| Subscribe Email: | * | |
| Name: | ||
| Mobile Number: | ||
Comment
0/1200
NEWSLETTER