Permit to allow the use of Methyl bromide in quantities greater than

AGVET CHEMICALS INFORMATION SHEET

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment

BIOSECURITY TASMANIA

Permit to allow the use of

Methyl bromide in quantities

ISSUE DATE: NOVEMBER 2013

greater than 50 kilograms

CONTACT DETAILS UPDATED: MAY 2014

What is Methyl Bromide?

Methyl bromide is an ozone depleting gas used

all over the world as a broad spectrum fumigant

to eradicate pests in a wide range of

commodities.

Australia is a party to the Montreal Protocol on

Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer which

is an international treaty designed to protect the

ozone layer by phasing out the production of

ozone depleting substances. As a consequence,

the use of methyl bromide has been prohibited in

Australia except for as a quarantine and pre-

shipment (QPS) treatment, approved feedstock

application or approved critical use exemption.

Why do I need a permit?

Given the toxic nature of the chemical, the

community has concerns regarding not only its

environmental effect but also its effect on human

health, particularly when large scale fumigations

are conducted in close proximity to bystanders.

A permit system for the use of quantities of

methyl bromide in excess of 50 kgs provides both

the potential user and general public with greater

confidence and security that the use of high

volumes of methyl bromide is done so

appropriately.

Therefore, all large scale fumigations

will be

prohibited unless authorised by a permit issued

by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks,

Water and Environment (DPIPWE).

Who can apply for a permit?

In order to apply for a permit an applicant must

hold a current Methyl Bromide User Certificate of

Competency issued by DPIPWE.

How do I apply for a permit?

An application for a permit must be submitted to

the Registrar of Chemical Products (the

Registrar) at DPIPWE. The application must be

submitted at least 10 working days prior to the

proposed fumigation to allow adequate time for it

to be assessed. A copy of the application form

can be obtained from the DPIPWE website

Who will assess my application?

Applications will be assessed by members of the

Agricultural, Silvicultural and Veterinary

Chemicals (ASCHEM) Council which includes the

Director of Public Health, Director of the

Environmental Protection Authority and the

General Manager of the Biosecurity and Product

Integrity Division of DPIPWE. If the application is

granted, a permit will be issued which contains

specific conditions under which the fumigation

must be carried out.

How will my application be assessed?

Applications will be assessed as one of two

types:

• Category 1 - low risk (involving methyl

bromide recapture technology

); or

• Category 2 – high risk (recapture technology

is not involved).

A large scale fumigation is defined as any single or

multiple (undertaken at the same time) fumigation event,

that involves the handling of a total quantity of methyl

bromide exceeding 50 kgs.

http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au

Recapture technology involves a system that reduces

methyl bromide emissions from fumigation enclosures by (i)

capturing the gas on activated carbon (or other medium) so

that it is not released into the atmosphere, or (ii)

destroying the gas before a container is ventilated.

AGVET CHEMICALS INFORMATION SHEET

For more information please contact:

Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Program

Product Integrity Branch

Phone: 03 6777 2133

Email: Stuart.Bowman@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

Applicants for Category 1 need to demonstrate

that the activity involving recapture of the methyl

bromide can be done in a safe manner that does

not present a threat to the safety or health of

workers and bystanders. Category 2 applicants

are required to demonstrate that a range of

alternative options (including recapture) have

been considered, and provide sound evidence

as to why these methods are not appropriate in

this circumstance. They must then show that the

planned fumigation activity can be undertaken

safely.

What are the permit conditions of use?

There are a number of general provisions that

must be satisfied when operating under either a

Category 1 or a Category 2 permit:

• comply with the label conditions on the

container of the product to be used in the

fumigation, that are set by the Australian

Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines

Authority;

• comply with the material safety data sheet

for the product to be used and make a copy

available to anyone who may be exposed, as

it contains vital information for emergencies;

• complete and document a comprehensive risk

assessment and fumigation management

plan including an emergency response

strategy;

• notify potentially affected sectors of the

community through the appropriate

authorities (i.e. Department of Health and

Human Services, port authority, local council

and emergency services); and

• comply with any other legal requirements that

relate to fumigation activities or additional

specific provisions required by the Registrar.

In addition to the above, there are a number of

provisions that must be complied with when

carrying out fumigation activities under a

Category 2 permit:

• if fumigation is undertaken for quarantine

purposes, satisfy the mandatory requirements

of the AQIS Methyl Bromide Fumigation

Standard. That is, conduct a risk assessment,

maintain a “risk area” around the fumigation

enclosure in which no unprotected persons

may enter, monitor methyl bromide

concentrations throughout the fumigation,

conduct post fumigation ventilation so that the

Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 5 ppm is not

exceeded outside the risk area and ensure

that the concentrations in the fumigation

enclosure and surrounding area are below the

TLV at the completion of ventilation;

• meet the requirements of the Australian

Standard - General Fumigation Procedures

(AS 2476-2008), ensure that any identified

control measures are implemented prior to the

fumigation and complete a record of

fumigation;

• employ (i) minimum buffer zones around the

fumigation in which the public are not

permitted and where the size of the zone is

determined by the scale of the fumigation, (ii)

do not exceed acute tolerable exposure limits

(TELs) (i.e. 1 ppm averaged over one hour

and 0.333 ppm averaged over 24 hours) and

(iii) monitor air quality during ventilation in the

downwind direction at the edge of the buffer

zone (until it is less than 0.05 ppm for 15

minutes); and

• if applicable, comply with the conditions for

shipboard fumigations set out by the

International Maritime Organisation such as

ensuring that (a) a professional operator

conducts the fumigation whilst the crew

remain on shore, (b) the master of the vessel

is informed of the active ingredient used,

hazards to human health involved and

precautions to be taken, (c) warning signs are

prominently displayed and a watchman

posted to prevent unauthorised boarding

whilst fumigation and ventilation takes place,

(d) concentrations of fumigant are monitored

so that they do not exceed the exposure limits

of the State and (e) crew are not returned or

the ship allowed to leave port until the

fumigator in charge has issued certification

that the vessel is gas free.