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Chemical Industry News is an e-Newsletter published by Agriculture Victoria that shares news and tips on agricultural and veterinary chemical use legislation in Victoria.
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Important industry related media
Suspension of specific dimethoate products
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has suspended the registration and labels of chemical products containing dimethoate used as a post-harvest dip for tropical and sub-tropical fruit with inedible peel.
The APVMA has received reports indicating that the maximum permitted level of pesticide residue (the maximum residue limit or MRL) for dimethoate, and its main degradation product omethoate, had been exceeded in avocados and mangoes.
The information available to the APVMA shows the MRL exceedance is likely due to the use of dimethoate in accordance with the approved instructions for use as a post-harvest dip.
The APVMA considers the level of residues detected are unlikely to pose a significant risk to human health but are above the acceptable level for an appropriate margin of safety.
The APVMA has published Notice of the suspension in the APVMA Gazette, 19 September 2023. The Gazette Notice includes instructions for the use of dimethoate but prohibits use of dimethoate as a post-harvest dip on tropical and sub-tropical fruit.
The APVMA remains satisfied that all other approved uses of dimethoate are safe .
The APVMA has also varied Permit 87164, held by Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd, to remove the use of dimethoate as a flood spray for post-harvest assorted tropical and sub-tropical fruits – inedible peel (crop group 006). The permitted use of dimethoate on citrus fruit with inedible peel remains acceptable.
Read more about this topic from the APVMA media release.