Letter to Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry requesting an enquiry into Fipronil being permitted by APVMA for Off Label usage during a time where the APVMA has been found to be at an unacceptable risk of corporate capture by the same industries it is meant to regulate. If you would like this letter please email communityvoicecentralcoast@tutanota.com

On January 26th 2023 Community Voice Australia- Central Coast and Save the Bees Australia launched a petition requesting:
* The immediate halting and removal of Fipronil baiting in NSW Red Zones
* A Judicial enquiry into the relationship between Government, Industry funded lobby groups, and Organisations representing Chemical Company interests, who have authority and sway over Government policies related to Bees.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) approved Fipronil Off Label to be used through NSW in the bush and on properties to kill honeybees. The Australian Native Honey Bees Association (ANBA) at the same time released a statement “Feral European honeybees will collect toxic sugar syrup and take it back to their nests inside hollow trees. In due course the feral nests will die, leaving substantial stores of honey which will be contaminated with Fipronil inside the trees. The Fipronil may continue to remain toxic in these areas for up to three years.Unfortunately, native stingless bees and other nectar-feeding insects, reptiles, birds and mammals may visit dead feral European honeybee nests and collect contaminated honey. Some of these native insects and animals may die from Fipronil poisoning.”

In July 2023 Clayton Utz released a report on the APVMA which was commissioned by the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt. The report was damning regarding the APVMA’s practices leading to corporate capture and 15-20 year time frames for chemical reviews.
An investigation in to Fipronil was started in 2002 by the APVMA. “Fipronil active constituents, chemical products and labels were nominated in 2002 for review following the receipt of a number of adverse experiences reports, primarily in veterinary chemical products.”

The final regulatory decision is expected in December 2024. A 22 year process.
On the 14th July 2023 Senator Murray Watt - Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry stated “Our first course of action will be a rapid evaluation of the APVMA’s structure and governance.This will be conducted by eminent former public servant Mr Ken Matthews AO. The report from the rapid evaluation will be provided to the Minister by 30 September 2023 and will include recommendations on the future governance, structure and funding arrangements of the APVMA.

In light that the report will be released in a few days time we have sent the change.org petition with over 36,000 signatures and we are asking for the following.
Due to APVMA’s decision to allow Fipronil off label, during a time of corporate capture by industry and lagging chemical reviews, we ask specifically for:
1. A public review into the process whereby the APVMA granted the use of Fipronil Off Label including: What scientific studies the APVMA relied upon to take this action? What other bodies were involved in the decision making? What risk assessments did the APVMA conduct regarding Fipronil being used in the environment?
2. A thorough independent assessment regarding the subsequent cumulative impacts on the environment through the Fipronil baiting stations.
3. Make available a service which the public can contact if they see any disturbing implications for wildlife near where a baiting station was placed.
4. Seek detailed information from the NSW Department of Primary Industries regarding what areas have been subjected to Fipronil baiting. Including:
(a) How much Fipronil was used?
(b) How the DPI plans on decontaminating these areas?

If you are concerned regarding the use of chemicals in our natural environment, particularly chemicals which are banned in many countries please consider writing to Murray Watt to ask that the process whereby Fipronil Off Label was allowed is scrutinised and made public. CC your local Federal representative in the communication. Minister.watt@agriculture.gov.au
Additionally, you can forward to communityvoicecentralcoast@tutanota.com so we can have a record of concerns raised.