Managing Farm Chemical Risks in Australia

Roger B Toffolon

Program Leader,Chemical Risk Management

Australia China Agricultural ForumUniversity of Western Sydney24-26 November 2003

What are agricultural chemicals…?

agricultural chemicals includes: – insecticides– fungicides– herbicides– chemicals used to control vertebrate pests– attractants, repellents– additives

What are veterinary chemicals…?

Includes chemicals that are used on animals and livestock to:

– cure or prevent disease; – modify the physiology of an animal including its

productivity, development or reproductive capacity;– change its behaviour.

Multiple tiers of risk management…

Risk assessment of new chemicals and uses Control the supply of chemicals

National policies for chemical management Maintain access to markets and facilitate

trade

Control how chemicals are used Enforce controls that protect the

environment and the health of consumers, the community and farm workers

National Control

National and State

State Control

Regulating the supply of chemicals…

agricultural and veterinary chemicals can only be supplied if they are registered

chemicals are registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)

the APVMA carries out a risk assessment of data supplied by the manufacturer to determine the safety of the chemical against five criteria

before chemicals are registered the APVMA must be satisfied a chemical meets five criteria

human health and safety are protected

product is effective for the purpose

will not harm the environmentwill not harm animals

will not prejudice international trade

The APVMA must be satisfied that…

What are the international trade issues…?

APVMA must be satisfied that the international trade issues arising from the use of the chemical on produce are manageable;

different food standards and maximum residue limits (MRL) apply in different countries;

different MRLs reflect different agricultural practices;

need to meet the standards of the importing country;

producers must consider MRLs when making chemical selections.

What about the off-label use of agricultural chemicals…?

off label uses can involve significant risks any off label uses must be assessed and approved off-label uses are assessed against the same criteria as

registered on-label use patterns residue data required for new crops to set MRL off label approval can be issued for

– minor uses including minor crops– emergency uses, or – for research purposes

Regulating the use of agricultural chemicals… Pesticides Act 1999

the user must follow the directions on the label

agricultural chemicals must not be used in a manner that causes– damage to property– harm to non target plants or animals– injury to another person– harm to wildlife

spray drift is the most common cause of contamination

all chemical users must be trained

producers must keep records of all chemicals used

New requirements for making records of all agricultural chemical applications

Need to ensure that all growers are aware of new regulatory requirements including growers of non-English speaking backgrounds

Regulating the use of veterinary chemicals…Stock Medicines Act

only registered products can be used on food producing animals

producers must follow the directions on the label

but veterinarians can prescribe off-label use for food producing animals

veterinarians must provide the user with clear instructions for any off-label use

Protecting workers from harm…

most pesticides are hazardous substances

employers must provide a safe workplace– carry out a risk assessment to identify problems– chemicals must be properly stored and records kept– supply personal protective equipment– provide material safety data sheets and other information– training of employees

workers must follow safe practices

Protecting consumers and food safety…

standards set for contaminants and chemicals in food

food that does not meet standards must not be supplied

chemical residues not generally a food safety issue but can affect public confidence in the quality and wholesomeness of food

microbiological contamination a bigger food safety issue

Reducing risks without Regulation…

supply chain quality assurance schemes are becoming increasingly important in delivering quality products

training in risk management for chemical users

good advice from NSW Agriculture on– chemical selections– adoption of best practices for chemical application– reduce dependence on chemical controls and

adoption of integrated pest management

Good advisory publications and access to information ensures that growers have the tools to manage risk in the most efficient way