Title: Amendments to labels of phenoxy herbicide products
[29 April 2009] The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has completed spray drift risk assessments for phenoxy herbicides containing the active constituents 2,4-DB, dichlorprop, MCPA, MCPB and mecoprop (see footnote). The APVMA will soon require the registrants to amend phenoxy herbicide product labels to mitigate risks identified in these assessments. Please note that 2,4-D, also a phenoxy herbicide, is currently under a full review and 2,4-D spray drift risks will be addressed as part of that review outcomes.
Background
In July 2008, the APVMA foreshadowed that it would assess and update labels for currently registered products to mitigate risks arising from spray drift (APVMA Operating Principles in Relation to Spray Drift Risk (PDF, 560kb)). Section 9.2 of this document outlines the procedures the APVMA will be following in having labels amended.
The APVMA has now completed spray drift risk assessments for phenoxy herbicides containing the active constituents 2,4-DB, dichlorprop, MCPA, MCPB and mecoprop. These assessments showed that no-spray zones in downwind areas are required to protect aquatic life, non-target native vegetation and crops. Specific label instructions are required to mitigate spray drift risk to the environment.
Label amendments
The APVMA will soon write formally to the registrants of phenoxy herbicide products requiring them to amend the product labels to include appropriate instructions to mitigate spray drift risk. The letter will be accompanied by a summary of the APVMA’s spray drift risk assessment and will allow a period for comment on the risk assessment outcomes.
Footnote: IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) names 2,4-D: (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid 2,4-DB: 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) butyric acid Dichlorprop: (RS)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) propionic acid MCPA: (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid; 4chloro-o-tolyloxyacetic acid MCPB: 4-(4-chloro-o-tolyloxy) butyric acid Mecoprop: (RS)-2-(4-chloro-o-tolyloxy) propionic acid