❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the potential contamination of compost with the herbicide clopyralid, inquiring about testing procedures and public safety assurances. The response indicates awareness of the issue but no routine testing, citing low usage of the herbicide in WA.
AnsweredQoN 1401Legislative 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 Agriculture 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 Agriculture 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 Agriculture undertake suitable tests so as to reassure WA compost users, especially home gardeners, that commercially available composts are safe to use?
(b) The Department of Agriculture, and Compost Australia, the recently established peak compost industry body, are aware of this issue. (c) Compost is not routinely tested for this chemical. (d) WA made compost is highly unlikely to contain unacceptable levels of clopyralid as the chemical's use on turf is extremely limited. However, the Western Compost Industry Association is aware of the potential problem. The potential problem is also being raised at national level through Compost Australia, and the Registration Liaison Committee of the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals.
(c) Compost is not routinely tested for this chemical. (d) WA made compost is highly unlikely to contain unacceptable levels of clopyralid as the chemical's use on turf is extremely limited. However, the Western Compost Industry Association is aware of the potential problem. The potential problem is also being raised at national level through Compost Australia, and the Registration Liaison Committee of the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals.
(d) WA made compost is highly unlikely to contain unacceptable levels of clopyralid as the chemical's use on turf is extremely limited. However, the Western Compost Industry Association is aware of the potential problem. The potential problem is also being raised at national level through Compost Australia, and the Registration Liaison Committee of the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals.
(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 Agriculture 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 Agriculture undertake suitable tests so as to reassure WA compost users, especially home gardeners, that commercially available composts are safe to use?
(b) The Department of Agriculture, and Compost Australia, the recently established peak compost industry body, are aware of this issue. (c) Compost is not routinely tested for this chemical. (d) WA made compost is highly unlikely to contain unacceptable levels of clopyralid as the chemical's use on turf is extremely limited. However, the Western Compost Industry Association is aware of the potential problem. The potential problem is also being raised at national level through Compost Australia, and the Registration Liaison Committee of the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals.
(c) Compost is not routinely tested for this chemical. (d) WA made compost is highly unlikely to contain unacceptable levels of clopyralid as the chemical's use on turf is extremely limited. However, the Western Compost Industry Association is aware of the potential problem. The potential problem is also being raised at national level through Compost Australia, and the Registration Liaison Committee of the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals.
(d) WA made compost is highly unlikely to contain unacceptable levels of clopyralid as the chemical's use on turf is extremely limited. However, the Western Compost Industry Association is aware of the potential problem. The potential problem is also being raised at national level through Compost Australia, and the Registration Liaison Committee of the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 March 2002
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Response time
22 days
(a) Clopyralid is registered for a wide range of agricultural crops. It is not registered for turf except for one product in which clopyralid is a minor component.
(b) The Department of Agriculture, and Compost Australia, the recently established peak compost industry body, are aware of this issue.
(c) Compost is not routinely tested for this chemical.
(d) WA made compost is highly unlikely to contain unacceptable levels of clopyralid as the chemical's use on turf is extremely limited. However, the Western Compost Industry Association is aware of the potential problem. The potential problem is also being raised at national level through Compost Australia, and the Registration Liaison Committee of the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals.
(b) The Department of Agriculture, and Compost Australia, the recently established peak compost industry body, are aware of this issue.
(c) Compost is not routinely tested for this chemical.
(d) WA made compost is highly unlikely to contain unacceptable levels of clopyralid as the chemical's use on turf is extremely limited. However, the Western Compost Industry Association is aware of the potential problem. The potential problem is also being raised at national level through Compost Australia, and the Registration Liaison Committee of the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals.
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