Restricted Chemicals

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'Restricted Use' Chemicals

In Victoria, there are a number of chemicals that are restricted in terms of who can use them and what they can be used for. These are known as 'restricted use' chemicals. Restrictions were placed on these chemicals in 1996 because they have a potentially higher risk of adversely affecting the users health, the environment and trade.

'Restricted use' chemicals are agricultural chemicals that:

are Schedule 7 Poisons (Dangerous Poisons). These substances have a high potential to cause harm at low exposure and require special precautions during manufacture, handling and use. Some examples of the active constituents in some schedule7 products are: aldicarb, dichlorvos, endosulfan, fenamiphos, methomyl, methyl bromide, aluminium phosphide, mevinphos, paraquat, parathion. (This does not include veterinary chemicals)
contain atrazine. These products have the ability to contaminate waterways and groundwater.
contain metham sodium, ester formulations of 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, MCPA and triclopyr.

Click on the links above for a list of all currently registered products that contain that active constituent

'Restricted use' chemicals cannot be used off-label unless a permit has been issued by DPI. See Permit application form.

Ester Formulations

While amine formulations can drift as droplets only, ester formulations have the ability to produce vapour that can drift significant distances from the target area. Many valuable crops including vines, cucurbits (melons, pumpkins and zucchinis), tomatoes and fruit trees are highly susceptible to ester formulations of 2,4-D MCPA and triclopyr.

The volatility of ester formulations is significantly greater than other formulations because they have the ability to volatilise after application under certain conditions, and drift as a vapour for many kilometres, damaging non-target crops. This combination makes these herbicides a high risk option.

To determine whether a herbicide is an ester formulation, read the active constituent on the product label. If ‘ester’ appears anywhere in the active constituent name, the product is classed as an ester formulation. Some ester products are named Low Volatile Ester (LVE) formulations. These products are still classed as esters and have the potential to produce vapour drift.

Below is an example of a product label. One of the active constituents in this product is MCPA present as an ester. Therefore this product is a ‘restricted use’ chemical and an ester formulation.

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