Untested pesticide looms over Australian backyards

Tuesday, 20 November 2001 10:00

'Due to its highly active nature the effects of Fipronil upon Australian fauna must be determined before its release into our backyards. Unless extensive testing is conducted there will be no way to determine how it may impact on the Australian ecosystem' said Ben Cole, Chemicals Campaigner of the Total Environment Centre.

Termidor would be used as a termiticide for the treatment of existing buildings, posts and poles. Termidor is currently registered by Aventis CropScience as an experimental product. For it to be released onto the market it must be reviewed by the National Registration Authority.

'I strongly recommend the NRA conduct a thorough review of the effects of Termidor on both Australian fauna and human health. Without this information they will not be able to assure the pest control industry that Termidor is safe for human handling and will not adversely effect the environment. A high level of caution must be exercised. If it is not safe it should not be used. Non-chemical barrier methods to stop termites should be more extensively used'.

'With the insurance industry clamping down on the pest control industry it is vital that pest control operators are not exposed to further risks'.