❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about herbicide (clopyralid) contamination in commercially available compost and seeks assurance from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding its safety for home gardeners. The DEP clarifies it doesn't regulate compost quality under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and refers to agricultural information.
AnsweredQoN 1402Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) are Government agencies aware that its presence at high levels has been found in compost in the USA; (c) if the herbicide is used in WA, what tests are conducted to determine if composts available for sale to the general public contain the chemical at unacceptably high levels; and (d) if no tests are being or have been conducted, will the Department of Environmental Protection undertake suitable tests so as to reassure WA compost users, especially home gardeners, that commercially available composts are safe to use?
(c) if the herbicide is used in WA, what tests are conducted to determine if composts available for sale to the general public contain the chemical at unacceptably high levels; and (d) if no tests are being or have been conducted, will the Department of Environmental Protection undertake suitable tests so as to reassure WA compost users, especially home gardeners, that commercially available composts are safe to use?
(d) if no tests are being or have been conducted, will the Department of Environmental Protection undertake suitable tests so as to reassure WA compost users, especially home gardeners, that commercially available composts are safe to use?
(d) While this problem is more relevant to agriculture than the environment, I have been informed by the DEP that should any clopyralid be present in compost, it is degraded in soil and has limited potential to enter waterways or groundwater. I refer the Honourable Member to 'The Pesticide Manual Twelfth Edition' published by the British Crop Protection Council for additional information. The DEP has also advised me that it does not currently regulate the quality of compost due to the bounds of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
The DEP has also advised me that it does not currently regulate the quality of compost due to the bounds of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
(c) if the herbicide is used in WA, what tests are conducted to determine if composts available for sale to the general public contain the chemical at unacceptably high levels; and (d) if no tests are being or have been conducted, will the Department of Environmental Protection undertake suitable tests so as to reassure WA compost users, especially home gardeners, that commercially available composts are safe to use?
(d) if no tests are being or have been conducted, will the Department of Environmental Protection undertake suitable tests so as to reassure WA compost users, especially home gardeners, that commercially available composts are safe to use?
(d) While this problem is more relevant to agriculture than the environment, I have been informed by the DEP that should any clopyralid be present in compost, it is degraded in soil and has limited potential to enter waterways or groundwater. I refer the Honourable Member to 'The Pesticide Manual Twelfth Edition' published by the British Crop Protection Council for additional information. The DEP has also advised me that it does not currently regulate the quality of compost due to the bounds of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
The DEP has also advised me that it does not currently regulate the quality of compost due to the bounds of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 May 2002
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
77 days
(a-c) The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has advised me that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, answered Parliamentary Question 1401 on 13 March 2002, which was the same as this question.
(d) While this problem is more relevant to agriculture than the environment, I have been informed by the DEP that should any clopyralid be present in compost, it is degraded in soil and has limited potential to enter waterways or groundwater. I refer the Honourable Member to 'The Pesticide Manual Twelfth Edition' published by the British Crop Protection Council for additional information.
The DEP has also advised me that it does not currently regulate the quality of compost due to the bounds of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
(d) While this problem is more relevant to agriculture than the environment, I have been informed by the DEP that should any clopyralid be present in compost, it is degraded in soil and has limited potential to enter waterways or groundwater. I refer the Honourable Member to 'The Pesticide Manual Twelfth Edition' published by the British Crop Protection Council for additional information.
The DEP has also advised me that it does not currently regulate the quality of compost due to the bounds of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
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