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Sheep Ectoparasiticides

Sheep ectoparasiticides are products widely used on sheep in Australia to control external parasites such as blowflies and lice.

There are a number of active constituents used as ectoparasiticides. Those considered by this review were alpha-cypermethrin, chlorfenvinphos, cypermethrin, cyromazine, deltamethrin, diazinon, dicyclanil, diflubenzuron, ivermectin, propetamphos, spinosad, temephos and triflumuron.

The review focuses on selected sheep ectoparasiticides for post-harvest wool and does not cover individual animal treatment products, nor does it include active constituents which are only approved for use on short wool (less than six weeks of wool growth).

The review does not consider occupational exposure during application of ectoparasiticides.

A number of active constituents included in the sheep ectoparasiticides review (temephos, propetamphos and diazinon) are also under review by the APVMA in their own right. This is to enable the APVMA to separately assess these active constituents, their uses and any concerns which may or may not include their use as sheep ectoparasiticides. While the active constituent reviews are being conducted separately, the outcomes of this review maybe taken into consideration by those reviews.

Sheep ectoparasiticides review

Status: review in progress

In 1999 the APVMA began a review of selected sheep ectoparasiticides because of concerns over the potential environmental, occupational health and safety, and trade risks from residues on treated wool.

In April 2006 the APVMA released the Sheep Ectoparasiticides Preliminary Review Findings Report (PDF, 817kb). The APVMA concluded that the risks associated with chemical residues on treated wool could generally be reduced by making changes to product labels indicating how products should be used by wool growers. The APVMA proposed that a wool harvesting interval (WHI) be specified and that product labels be varied to include additional precautionary statements and safety instructions. Read a full history of the review.

The APVMA will issue a final report once the assessment of all available data is completed.

Review Report Date
Sheep Ectoparasiticides Preliminary Review Findings Vol. 1 ( PDF, 817kb) Apr 2006
Sheep Ectoparasiticides Preliminary Review Findings Vol. 2 ( PDF, 870kb) Apr 2006

Contact

For more information contact:

Chemical Review

Phone: +61 2 6210 4749

Fax: +61 2 6210 4874

Email: chemicalreview@apvma.gov.au

Product Search

Search the PUBCRIS database for registered products that contain sheep ectoparasiticides.
Note: In the Active Constituent 1 field enter sheep ectoparasiticides.

APVMA sheep ectoparasiticides archive

Title Date
Media Release: APVMA Releases Findings on Wool Residue Risks Apr 2006
Backgrounder Paper for Sheep Ectoparasiticides Apr 2006
Gazette Notice: Special review of registration and associated label approvals of selected sheep ectoparasiticides Oct 1999
Gazette Notice: Special review of registration and associated label approvals of selected sheep ectoparasiticides Sep 1999
Gazette Notice: Proposed revision of registration requirements for sheep ectoparasiticide products (PDF, 74kb) Sep 1999
Gazette Notice: Proposed revision of registration requirements for sheep ectoparasiticide products Sep 1999
The residue implications of sheep ectoparasiticides ( PDF, 413kb) Nov 1998