Insecticide methidathion deregistered
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has advised that widely used insecticide methidathion is being cancelled at the request of the holder, Adama Australia. The effected product is Suprathion 400 EC and is registered for use in a number of fruit, nuts, nursery, pastures, vegetables and forestry commodities to control a variety of scales aphids, bugs, caterpillars, mites, mealybugs and hoppers. Specifically, this product is registered for use in WA vineyards for grapevine moth, grapevine scale, long tailed mealy bug, light brown apple moth, common auger beetle and some other minor pests. There are also a number of off-label permits which will be affected by the cancellation.
Please consider wisely any purchases of methidation products to ensure that you do not buy more than you need to use in the next 12 months. Growers have until 4 February 2021 to use current stock.
A person may supply or cause to be supplied the cancelled active constituent manufactured prior to 4 February 2020 at wholesale and retail level, until 4 February 2021. After 4 February 2021 it will be an offence against the Agvet Codes to have possession or custody of the cancelled active constituent with the intention to supply.
A person may continue to use the cancelled active constituent until 4 February 2021. Any person who possesses, has custody of, uses, or otherwise deals with the cancelled active constituent in accordance with the above instructions is taken to have been issued with a permit under the Agvet Codes to so possess, have custody of, use or otherwise deal with the cancelled active constituent after the approval has been cancelled until 4 February 2021.
The supply and use of the cancelled active constituent must be in accordance with the conditions of approval. It is an offence to possess, have custody of, use, or deal with the cancelled active constituent listed in the table in a manner that contravenes the above instructions.
For any enquiries or further information about this matter please contact the APVMA at chemicalreview@apvma.gov.au