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Wednesday, 13. January 2016Pesticide Derogations Reminder: Consultation open till 24 January'16

FSC International has delayed the requirement for Forest Managers to obtain derogations for any chemicals added to its Highly Hazardous Pesticide list in February 2015. Derogations will only be sought on sodium fluroacetate (1080), Alpha-Cypermethrin, Fipronyl and Amitrole. A second round of stakeholder feedback will open on Thursday 24 December for a further 4 weeks until 24 January 2016

Key points

  • FSC International has delayed the requirement for Forest Managers to obtain derogations for any chemicals added to its Highly Hazardous Pesticide list in February 2015.
  • FSC will not review the need for new derogations until after a review of its chemical policy in late 2016.
  • Australian Forest Managers will suspend the application process for 5 of the original 9 pesticides.
  • Derogations will only be sought on sodium fluroacetate (1080), Alpha-Cypermethrin, Fipronyl and Amitrole
  • A second round of stakeholder feedback will open on Thursday 24 December for a further 4 weeks until 24 January 2016

Australian applications for pesticide derogations: Derogations not required for 5 chemicals
A group of 10 Australian forest companies, either FSC Certified or seeking certification, have been developing derogation applications to enable the continued use of pesticides listed as FSC Highly Hazardous.
The Forest Managers originally provided details through FSC Australia’s website for nine pesticide derogations – five for new chemicals recently added to FSC’s highly hazardous list, and four for existing derogations that seek to be extended. The first round of consultation relating to these nine pesticides ran from 25 September to 16 November 2015 and attracted over 75 public submissions.
Following FSC Internationals November Board decision, Forest Managers are no longer required to submit applications for five of the nine chemicals. They are: Pindone, Copper Sulphate, Cuprous Oxide, Picloram and Glufosinate Ammonium. Their use can continue in accordance with local laws and regulations and subject to the strict requirements of FSC’s Forest Management Standard. Chemical use will continue to be reviewed at every FSC surveillance audit.
2nd Round of public consultation process – Australian applications for pesticide derogations
Forest Managers are seeking to renew derogations for four chemicals whose derogations that expire in February 2016. The restricted chemicals are sodium fluroacetate (1080) , Alpha-Cypermethrin, Fipronyl and Amitrole.
In response to stakeholder feedback a second round of consultation will open on Thursday 24 December for a further 4 weeks until 24 January 2016.
Following the first round of feedback these derogation applications have been updated. Copies of the updated derogation applications and a summary of the stakeholder feedback from the first round of consultation are attached (available from 24 December 2015).
The independent Pesticide Derogation Advisory Group at a meeting on Friday January 29th 2016 will consider stakeholder feedback on the completed derogation applications.
Recommendations for the final completion of the derogation applications will be made based on all stakeholder feedback received. The advisory group will also make recommendations to the FSC International Pesticides Committee who will make the final decision on the pesticide derogation applications.
How can I get involved?
Forest Managers are requesting feedback on the four updated derogation applications.
Applications will be available from Thursday 24 December. Feedback on applications is welcomed from 24th December 2015 up to 24th January 2016.
During this feedback period you are invited to:

  • Contact your local forest company representative (see table on FSC’s website), or
  • Contact the National Coordinator Kevin o’Grady on 03 9439 2314 or at , or
  • Submit public comment using the Stakeholder Feedback Template and emailing it to their preferred company representative or to the National Coordinator Kevin O’Grady at .
  • Alternatively comment can be posted directly to Kevin O’Grady at PO Box 41 Eltham VIC 3095.

Attachments
Six attachments will be uploaded on Thursday 24 December 2015.
Updated Derogation Applications:
(1) 1080: 2015 FSC-PRO-30-001 V1-0 EN Pesticide Derogation 1080.doc
(2) Alpha-Cypermethrin: 2015 FSC-PRO-30-001 V1-0 EN Pesticide Derogation Alphacypermethrin.doc
(3) Fipronyl: 2015 FSC-PRO-30-001 V1-0 EN Pesticide Derogation Fipronil.doc
(4) Amitrole: 2015 FSC-PRO-30-001 V1-0 EN Pesticide Derogation Amitrole.doc
Stakeholder engagement report: Summary of stakeholder feedback from round 1
(5a) Interim Stakeholder Engagement Full Report, December 2015
5b) Interim Stakeholder Engagement Summary Report, December 2015
Stakeholder Feedback Template
(6) Stakeholder feedback template

  • 1080: 2015 FSC-PRO-30-001 V1-0 EN Pesticide Derogation 1080.doc
    PDF, Size: 961,49 KB
    Added: Thursday, 24.12.2015
  • Fipronyl: 2015 FSC-PRO-30-001 V1-0 EN Pesticide Derogation Fipronil.doc
    PDF, Size: 1.003,13 KB
    Added: Thursday, 24.12.2015
  • Amitrole: 2015 FSC-PRO-30-001 V1-0 EN Pesticide Derogation Amitrole.do
    PDF, Size: 931,27 KB
    Added: Thursday, 24.12.2015
  • Interim Stakeholder Engagement Full Report, December 2015
    PDF, Size: 9,32 MB
    Added: Thursday, 24.12.2015
  • Interim Stakeholder Engagement Summary Report, December 2015
    PDF, Size: 1,06 MB
    Added: Thursday, 24.12.2015
  • Stakeholder feedback spread sheet
    ZIP.MSOFFICE, Size: 18,93 KB
    Added: Thursday, 24.12.2015
  • Alpha-Cypermethrin: 2015 FSC-PRO-30-001 V1-0 EN Pesticide Derogation Alphacypermethrin.doc
    PDF, Size: 1,59 MB
    Added: Thursday, 24.12.2015

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