Use of phenoxy herbicides in Western Australia
Use of phenoxy herbicides is restricted in Western Australia (WA) under the Aerial Spraying Control Act 1966 and the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection (Spraying Restrictions) Regulation 1979.
In WA, there are requirements for the spraying of phenoxy based herbicides around sensitive crops in the specific locations. Spraying of any volatile ester of phenoxy acid is totally banned within five kilometres of a commercially sensitive crop (that is a vineyard or tomato garden), within 19 kilometres of the Geraldton post office, within the Swan Valley, and within ten kilometres of the Kununurra post office.
Spraying of an approved low volatile ester or scheduled herbicide may occur between five to ten kilometres of a commercially sensitive crop (that is, vineyard or tomato garden), beyond 19 kilometres but within 50 kilometres radius of Geraldton post office and between ten and 50 kilometres of the Kununurra post office with the prior written approval for the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.
There are additional restrictions with respect to sensitive sites such as vineyards and horticultural enterprises.
- Spraying restrictions only apply to scheduled herbicides (hormone sprays — phenoxys and pyridines)
- No ester formulations of scheduled herbicides are permitted for use within a five kilometre radius of a commercial vineyard and horticultural enterprises.
- Permits are only required for scheduled herbicides for use within five kilometres of a commercial vineyard and horticultural enterprises.
- No scheduled volatile esters are permitted for use within ten kilometres of a commercial vineyard and horticultural enterprises.
- There are no restrictions for any herbicide outside ten kilometres from a commercial vineyard and horticultural enterprises.
Within five kilometres of a commercial vineyard and horticultural enterprises: only amine and sodium and potassium salt formulations are approved for spraying under permit. Therefore the following scheduled herbicides including MCPA, MCPB, 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, Dicamba and Picloram are allowed to be used within five kilometres, so long as they are either amine, sodium, or potassium salt formulations.
Between five and ten kilometres of a commercial vineyard: amine and sodium and potassium salt and low volatile ester formulations can be used without a permit.
Outside of ten kilometres: all formulations can be used without restrictions.
| Distance from a commercial vineyard | Herbicides permitted | Spraying restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Within five kilometre radius | Amine or sodium or potassium salt formulations of scheduled herbicides | Permit required. NO ester formulations of scheduled herbicides permitted. |
| Between five and ten kilometres | Amine or sodium or potassium salt or low volatile (LVE) formulations of scheduled herbicides | Permit not required NO volatile ester formulations of scheduled herbicides permitted |
| Outside ten kilometre radius | NO restrictions | — |