The NSW Greens are calling for a ban on the agri-chemical atrazine while further investigations are done into a possible birth defect cluster near Lismore on the state’s North Coast.
The North Coast Public Health Unit is still working through the process to determine an actual figure, from a number of reported cases of babies born with the rare conditition gastroschisis in the area since 2008.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s Felicity McDonald says there’s no credible evidence that atrazine causes birth defects.
“The APVMA has no evidence before it that would trigger a review of atrazine at this time,” she said.
“If risks became apparent that we were not able to manage through changes to the use of the product and its registered conditions, then we could trigger a review of the chemical.”
