The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the recent news that the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) have cancelled the registration of some variants of 2, 4-D and called on the Minister for Water to ensure the ban is enforced immediately.
Greens Water spokesperson, Tim Morris MP, called for a public awareness campaign targeting individuals and organisations that have had contact with the 2, 4-D (HVE) variant, and for steps to recall and dispose of any residual quantities of the chemical.
“It was disconcerting, to say the least, that my question appeared to be the first time the Minister had even heard about the ban of 2, 4-D (HVE),” Mr Morris said.
“This issue has been elevated to national interest after a string of media reports have highlighted the gravity of the issues and legacies caused by this chemical.”
“I have questioned the Minister a number of times about whether he planned to more strictly regulate or ban the substance.”
“The West Australian Government has been paying compensation to workers who have become ill from using 2, 4-D since 2004 which indicates the serious nature of this issue.”
“I would have thought that there would be a campaign locally to immediately begin educating vendors and consumers about the ban.”
“To date we have seen no action from the Minister to promote this ban or to facilitate disposing of existing quantities of the chemical.”
“2, 4-D is known to cause cancer, birth defects, deterioration of spinal tissue and a number of other health conditions and it is essential that we urgently remove this substance from circulation within the market and our environment.”
“Meanwhile the APVMA is continuing its investigation into remaining 2, 4 D products to determine whether there should be more restrictions on their use or possibly a total ban on all products containing 2, 4 D.”
Tim Morris MP Greens Water Spokesperson
