Banned pesticide for food grown in Western Australia
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority (APVMA) has made exceptions for some Western Australian fruit and vegetable growers to use a pesticide banned in the rest of Australia.
Australian Food News reported on 16th October 2012 that the APVMA had recommended suspension of the use of fenthion, a common fruit fly control chemical, after it was reported that dietary exposure in young children was a health risk.
The APVMA has allowed the use of fenthion on certain crops in WA despite the concerns about risks of harmful exposure to children and wider environmental concerns.
Western Australia has been granted exceptions to use fenthion on crops such as citrus, cherries, lemons and limes.
The APVMA has also imposed certain ‘modify use patterns’ on the use of fenthion on particular crops Australia-wide, such as apples, stone fruit and grapes. Modified use patterns include lower rates, less sprays of longer withholding periods.
Fenthion has been listed as a moderately toxic compound according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization.
A complete list of the suspended and allowed uses of fenthion in Australia can be found at the APVMA website.
APVMA releases new ‘chemical database’ iPhone App
Meanwhile, the APVMA has released an iPhone application which provides users which a searchable database of over 10,500 agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved in Australia.
The database provides users with information about registered chemical products available to treat a specific insect pest, as well as information about active constituents, withholding periods and product labels.
The application is available for free from the iTunes store.
Australia is SO behind the eight ball when it comes to safety standards in EVERY regard (food AND on the road) just look at Europe (Germany etc) in both regards COMPLETELY different attitudes between both and Australia is leading the way in being ahead in A) Toxins and pesticides on our foods and B) Leading car crash fatalities even though Germany has an unlimited speed limit in place.
Why do I bring up something that is unrelated to the topic in my last example? Because it is a CLASSIC example how Australia does not take into account ANYTHING from other country’s even if statistic’s prove it, ONLY takes into the $$$ account, reminds me a LOT of America which is one (if not THE most) sickest developed countries in the world.