Australian farmers will continue to have access to a popular insecticide following a decision from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) confirming dimethoate is safe to use on a number of agricultural crops.
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The APVMA decision follows a thirteen year reconsideration of the insecticide, which commenced in 2004 to confirm the safe use of dimethoate and that possible exposure to its residues in food is within safe limits.
APVMA Executive Director, Scientific Assessment and Chemical Review, Dr Jason Lutze, said the findings on dimethoate are a result of extensive engagement with industry that has provided the evidence required to allow a number of uses to be maintained.
“Farmers can still use dimethoate on avocado, cereal, citrus, cotton, mango, peanut and pulse crops, and the amended labels outline new instructions that will protect the health of workers,” he said.
“A number of these uses would not have been possible had we made a final decision in 2011.”
