"... Poor pesticide spraying practices in the Nambucca Valley and Coffs Harbour regions...Chemical banned by European Union still used in Australia."

When you drive from Nambucca Valley to the Coffs Harbour regions you can see giant white plastic nets enclosing blueberries, raspberries and blackberries plantations. There are toxic chemicals on some berries, the water and the area.

"Banned chemical thiometon detected in berries sold at supermarkets."

"Blueberry farming has boomed in NSW, including in the Nambucca Valley, as minimal red tape is required to set up. Blueberry farms can be started without formal registration or oversight, making it hard for authorities to track pesticide use. Since January 2022, the EPA has prosecuted 21 pesticide-related incidents across a range of crops in local courts across NSW... The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) announced a review into the use of dimethoate on blueberries, raspberries and blackberries."
>>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-07/pesticide-review-thiometon-dimethoate-blueberries-raspberries/105701674
#food #regulation #toxins #pesticide #water #BerryIndustry #EPA #APVMA #governance #fruits #blueberries #NSW #plantations #MidNorthCoast #nambucca #CoffsHarbour #pollution #sprayDrift #dimethoate #thiometon #neurotoxins

Surge in berry consumption prompts potential dimethoate restriction

Australians’ surging appetite for berries has forced the national farm chemical watchdog to review the risk of exposure…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #apvma #AU #Australia #BerriesAustralia #berry #chemical #CSIRO #dimethoate #insecticide #pesticide
https://www.newsbeep.com/97267/

Banned in 67 countries and linked to Parkinson’s disease, paraquat is facing calls for stricter regulation. Yet, Australia’s cotton industry body is urging authorities to maintain current rules. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has been reviewing this controversial weedkiller for 27 years.

#paraquat #parkinsondisease #weedkiller #pesticides #australia #agriculture #cottonindustry #apvma #environment #DriestcontinentonEarth

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-29/cotton-australia-calls-usage-rates-chemical-paraquat-remain/104525830

Australian food is grown with dangerous chemicals banned in other countries

"Australia has a global reputation as a source of clean food. In fact, the country has some of the most lax regulation of pesticide use in the western world."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/sep/27/australian-food-is-grown-with-dangerous-chemicals-banned-in-other-countries

The dirty dozen: 12 pesticides that are banned elsewhere but still used in Australia
List of toxins>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/ng-interactive/2022/sep/27/12-pesticides-banned-elsewhere-but-still-used-legal-in-australia-what-is-paraquat-atrazine-fiprinol-pesticide-chemicals-food-crops-animals

Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease in agricultural producers
"The regulator (is) lagging behind. A 2023 report commissioned by the federal government found “serious allegations of chemical industry capture of the APVMA” and that it took far too long to finalise reviews of dangerous chemicals, including paraquat."
>>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-31/parkinsons-disease-may-be-linked-to-farm-chemical-paraquat/104188978
#food #safety #consumers #Paraquat #pesticides #herbicide #chemicals #agrochemicals #harm #farmers #BigAg #OHS #Syngenta #litigation #neurotoxicity #Parkinsons #APVMA #toxins #regulation #governance #Australia #lagging #water #wildlife #PublicHealth

Dead owls are piling up in my freezer

"Australia is one of the last countries to ban or tightly regulate the use of first and second generation anticoagulant rodenticides...Rat and mouse baits containing second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are commonly found in big-brand hardware stores."
>>
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/dead-owls-are-piling-up-in-my-freezer-perth-scientists-take-a-stand-20240704-p5jr71.html
#birds #NonTarget #wildlife #owls #APVMA #regulation #toxins #pesticide #anticoagulant #rodenticides #harm #FoodChain

Imported pests and broad-spectrum pesticide regulation

"A “wildly toxic” chemical used to combat fire ants and the varroa mite in Australia is banned in Europe and harmful to humans – and it is poisoning waterways and killing native fauna, experts warn."

"Australia is “a basket case” in that the chemical regulator answers to the department of agriculture, rather than to the department of health, as in Japan, the US and Europe, said Landos."

"NSW MP Emma Hurst of the Animal Justice party said: “It is time for Australia to catch up to the rest of the world and ban fipronil.”"
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/16/fipronil-fire-ant-poison-toxic-senate-inquiry-bans
#pests #pesticide #regulation #fipronil #OneHealth #APVMA #neonicotinoids #floodplains #toxins #ecosystem #pollution #wildlife #biosecurity #trade

Chemical regulator captured by industry interests while Australia is soaked in pesticides?

"Concerningly, the review found serious allegations of chemical industry capture of the APVMA, which appears to have played a key role in the organisation not performing its full regulatory responsibilities...The board chair and CEO of Australia's chemical regulator have resigned, as a damning report finds the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) was "captured" by industry interests and subject to regular complaints of misconduct. The APVMA was also found to have "embedded" industry interests into its regulatory priorities and culture"

"Of the 10 ongoing chemical reviews, eight have been in progress for over 15 years or more, with seven ongoing for nearly 20 years”

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-14/apvma-pesticides-urination-review-delivered/102597720
#APVMA #SystemicProblems #governance #WeedKiller #glyphosate #chemicals #pesticide #regulation #failure #health #biodiversity