Permits issued to control citrus gall wasp

Permits issued to control citrus gall wasp

11-Aug-2016

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) issued two permits on August 5 for the use of Samurai (clothianidin) to control citrus gall wasp.
The two permits have been granted only for the 2016/17 season and will expire on July 31, 2017.
The permitted use pattern is a single application through the irrigation system immediately after flowering, with a 19 week withholding period.
Citrus Australia Market Access Manager, David Daniels, said the issuing of the two permits is an important step forward in the fight against citrus gall wasp.
“The only other product currently registered to control this pest is Suprathion (methidathion) and there are serious questions over the availability of this product beyond 2016.
“Irrespective of the limited supply of methidathion, the product is under review in Australia and has already been banned for use in China.”
A temporary Australian MRL of 0.2 mg/kg for clothianidin has been established in the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Instrument No. 4 (MRL Standard), but the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code has not yet been amended.
“This means growers can apply clothianidin in orchards but fruit cannot enter the Australian domestic market until the Food Standards Code has been amended. We expect that the Food Standards Code will be amended by the end of September 2016.”
Importing country MRLs for clothianidin are established in the European Union (0.1 mg/kg), Canada (0.1 mg/kg), Japan (2 mg/kg), USA (0.07 mg/kg), Taiwan (1 mg/kg), Korea (0.3 mg/kg), Hong Kong (0.07 mg/kg), Indonesia (0.07 mg/kg). No MRLs are established in Thailand, Singapore or Malaysia.
“As a number of importing countries MRLs are substantially different to the Australian MRL, we encourage anyone using clothianidin this season to conduct residue testing through Citrus Australia’s residue monitoring (NRS) program.”
Citrus Australia will work with Sumitomo to either extend the life of the two permits or seek full product registration in time for the 2017 season.
E.E. Muir & Sons and Sumitomo will be conducting information sessions over the next few weeks.
Interested growers should contact their regional offices if they wish to participate (Mildura 03 5055 4400, Dareton 03 5027 4254, Renmark 08 8595 1580).
The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries is conducting a gall wasp workshop on August 30 in the Riverina.
Growers from the Riverina should contact Andrew Creek on 0428 934 952 if they wish to attend.