A WA parliamentary question addresses the government's understanding of dioxins' carcinogenic risk and the use of herbicides 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D in Western Australia, revealing past deregulation and current registration status.

AnsweredQoN 1311Legislative Council
Asked
17 April 2002
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

HERBICIDES, DIOXINS, CARCINOGENIC RISK
(1) Will the minister outline the Government’s understanding of whether dioxins cause cancer in humans? (2) When was the last time the department approved the use of the herbicides 2, 4, 5-T and 2, 4-D in Western Australia? (3) Are the herbicides allowed to be used in Western Australia at this time? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD

AnswerView source ↗

On behalf of the parliamentary secretary for the Minister for Health, I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Health considers the carcinogenic risk of dioxins to humans in accordance with the group classification system of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The classification system distinguishes different dioxins and exposure levels in relation to cancer. (2)-(3) The herbicide 2, 4, 5-T was deregistered by the States between 1982 and 1994. In 1994 the Department of Agriculture applied to the Pesticides Advisory Committee for approval to use remaining stocks of this herbicide. Conditional temporary approval was granted to the department under regulations 19 and 20C of the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 1956 until 30 June 1998. Since 1995 the National Registration Authority has held responsibility for approving agricultural and veterinary chemicals for use. 2, 4-D is still registered by the National Registration Authority for use in Western Australia.
(2) When was the last time the department approved the use of the herbicides 2, 4, 5-T and 2, 4-D in Western Australia? (3) Are the herbicides allowed to be used in Western Australia at this time? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: On behalf of the parliamentary secretary for the Minister for Health, I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Health considers the carcinogenic risk of dioxins to humans in accordance with the group classification system of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The classification system distinguishes different dioxins and exposure levels in relation to cancer. (2)-(3) The herbicide 2, 4, 5-T was deregistered by the States between 1982 and 1994. In 1994 the Department of Agriculture applied to the Pesticides Advisory Committee for approval to use remaining stocks of this herbicide. Conditional temporary approval was granted to the department under regulations 19 and 20C of the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 1956 until 30 June 1998. Since 1995 the National Registration Authority has held responsibility for approving agricultural and veterinary chemicals for use. 2, 4-D is still registered by the National Registration Authority for use in Western Australia.
(3) Are the herbicides allowed to be used in Western Australia at this time? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: On behalf of the parliamentary secretary for the Minister for Health, I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Health considers the carcinogenic risk of dioxins to humans in accordance with the group classification system of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The classification system distinguishes different dioxins and exposure levels in relation to cancer. (2)-(3) The herbicide 2, 4, 5-T was deregistered by the States between 1982 and 1994. In 1994 the Department of Agriculture applied to the Pesticides Advisory Committee for approval to use remaining stocks of this herbicide. Conditional temporary approval was granted to the department under regulations 19 and 20C of the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 1956 until 30 June 1998. Since 1995 the National Registration Authority has held responsibility for approving agricultural and veterinary chemicals for use. 2, 4-D is still registered by the National Registration Authority for use in Western Australia.
Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: On behalf of the parliamentary secretary for the Minister for Health, I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Health considers the carcinogenic risk of dioxins to humans in accordance with the group classification system of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The classification system distinguishes different dioxins and exposure levels in relation to cancer. (2)-(3) The herbicide 2, 4, 5-T was deregistered by the States between 1982 and 1994. In 1994 the Department of Agriculture applied to the Pesticides Advisory Committee for approval to use remaining stocks of this herbicide. Conditional temporary approval was granted to the department under regulations 19 and 20C of the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 1956 until 30 June 1998. Since 1995 the National Registration Authority has held responsibility for approving agricultural and veterinary chemicals for use. 2, 4-D is still registered by the National Registration Authority for use in Western Australia.
On behalf of the parliamentary secretary for the Minister for Health, I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The Department of Health considers the carcinogenic risk of dioxins to humans in accordance with the group classification system of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The classification system distinguishes different dioxins and exposure levels in relation to cancer. (2)-(3) The herbicide 2, 4, 5-T was deregistered by the States between 1982 and 1994. In 1994 the Department of Agriculture applied to the Pesticides Advisory Committee for approval to use remaining stocks of this herbicide. Conditional temporary approval was granted to the department under regulations 19 and 20C of the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 1956 until 30 June 1998. Since 1995 the National Registration Authority has held responsibility for approving agricultural and veterinary chemicals for use. 2, 4-D is still registered by the National Registration Authority for use in Western Australia.
(1) The Department of Health considers the carcinogenic risk of dioxins to humans in accordance with the group classification system of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The classification system distinguishes different dioxins and exposure levels in relation to cancer. (2)-(3) The herbicide 2, 4, 5-T was deregistered by the States between 1982 and 1994. In 1994 the Department of Agriculture applied to the Pesticides Advisory Committee for approval to use remaining stocks of this herbicide. Conditional temporary approval was granted to the department under regulations 19 and 20C of the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 1956 until 30 June 1998. Since 1995 the National Registration Authority has held responsibility for approving agricultural and veterinary chemicals for use. 2, 4-D is still registered by the National Registration Authority for use in Western Australia.
(2)-(3) The herbicide 2, 4, 5-T was deregistered by the States between 1982 and 1994. In 1994 the Department of Agriculture applied to the Pesticides Advisory Committee for approval to use remaining stocks of this herbicide. Conditional temporary approval was granted to the department under regulations 19 and 20C of the Health (Pesticides) Regulations 1956 until 30 June 1998. Since 1995 the National Registration Authority has held responsibility for approving agricultural and veterinary chemicals for use. 2, 4-D is still registered by the National Registration Authority for use in Western Australia.

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