August 17, 2012
Australia tightens restrictions on carbendazim, carbaryl use
The use of the fungicide carbendazim and the pesticide carbaryl has been further restricted by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).
Already banned for use by home gardeners and for crops including grapes, citrus and stonefruit, carbendazim can no longer be used on crops including strawberries, pasture and clover, or sugar cane setts. Carbendazim can still be used by commercial growers of crops such as lentils, macadamias and pyrethrum.
The APVMA's Susan Whitbread says there are many other chemical options available to growers.
"Australia has a vast number of both fungicides and insecticides registered in our databases, so we would suggest that if people have been using these either of these products and are not sure about what they can use, that they firstly talk to their industry association," she said.
"We've been in constant contact with the industry representatives. These [decisions] should not be surprises to industry."