Public Release Summary on the Evaluation of the New Product Amitron 700WG Herbicide

Public Release Summary

on the evaluation of the new product Amitron 700WG Herbicide

APVMA Product Number 85031

MaY 2018

© Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority 2018

ISSN: 1443-1335 (electronic)
ISBN: 978-1-925767-08-7 (electronic)

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With the exception of the Coat of Arms and other elements specifically identified, this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence. This is a standard form agreement that allows you to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this publication provided that you attribute the work.

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Source: Licensed from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence.

In referencing this document the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority should be cited as the author, publisher and copyright owner.

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The material in or linking from this report may contain the views or recommendations of third parties. Third party material does not necessarily reflect the views of the APVMA, or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action.

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Director Public Affairs and Communication

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority

PO Box 6182

KINGSTON ACT 2604 Australia

Telephone: +61 2 6210 4812

Email:

This publication is available from the APVMA website: www.apvma.gov.au

MaY 2018

Contents1

Contents

Preface

About this document

Making a submission

Further information

1Introduction

1.1Purpose of application

1.2Product claims and use pattern

1.3Mode of action

1.4Overseas registrations

2Chemistry and manufacture

2.1Active constituent

2.2Formulated product

3Toxicological assessment

3.1Evaluation of toxicology

3.2Health-based guidance values and poisons scheduling

4Residues assessment

4.1Introduction

4.2Metabolism

4.3Analytical methods

4.4Stability of the pesticide in stored analytical samples

4.5Residue definition

4.6Residue trials

4.7Animal commodity MRLs

4.8Estimated dietary intake

4.9Bioaccumulation potential

4.10Spray drift

4.11Recommendations

5Assessment of overseas trade aspects of residues in food

5.1Commodities exported

5.2Destination of exports

5.3Overseas registrations and approved label instructions

5.4Comparison of Australian MRLs with Codex and International MRLs

5.5Potential risk to trade

6Occupational Health and Safety assessment

6.1Use pattern

6.2Exposure during use

6.3Exposure during re-entry

6.4Recommendations for safe use

6.5Conclusion

7Environmental assessment

7.1Introduction

7.2Fate and behaviour in the environment

7.3Effects and associated risks to non-target species

7.4Conclusion

8Efficacy and safety assessment

8.1Proposed use pattern

8.2Summary of efficacy and crop safety

8.3Conclusions

9Labelling requirements

Abbreviations

Glossary

References

List of tables

Table 1: Nomenclature of amicarbazone

Table 2: Physicochemical properties of amicarbazone

Table 3: Identification of the proposed product

Table 4: Physicochemical properties of Amitron 700WG Herbicide

FM_REG01/05 – V1 - A380647

Preface1

Preface

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the Australian Government regulator with responsibility for assessing and approving agricultural and veterinary chemical products prior to their sale and use in Australia.

In undertaking this task, the APVMA works in close cooperation with advisory agencies, including the Department of Health and Ageing and State Departments of Primary Industries.

The APVMA has a policy of encouraging openness and transparency in its activities and of seeking community involvement in decision making. Part of that process is the publication of Public Release Summaries for products containing new active constituents.

The information and technical data required by the APVMA to assess the safety of new chemical products, and the methods of assessment, must be consistent with accepted scientific principles and processes. Details are outlined on the APVMA website.

This Public Release Summary is intended as a brief overview of the assessment that has been conducted by the APVMA and of the specialist advice received from its advisory agencies. It has been deliberately presented in a manner that is likely to be informative to the widest possible audience thereby encouraging public comment.

About this document

This is a Public Release Summary.

It indicates that the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is considering an application for registration of an agricultural or veterinary chemical. It provides a summary of the APVMA’s assessment, which may include details of:

• the toxicology of both the active constituent and product
• the residues and trade assessment
• occupational exposure aspects
• environmental fate, toxicity, potential exposure and hazard
• efficacy and target crop or animal safety.

Comment is sought from interested stakeholders on the information contained within this document.

Preface1

Making a submission

In accordance with section 13 of the Agvet Code, the APVMA invites any person to submit a relevant written submission as to whether the application for registration of Amitron 700WG Herbicide, containing 700 g/kg amicarbazone should be granted. Submissions should relate only to matters that the APVMA is required, by legislation, to take into account in deciding whether to grant the application. These matters include aspects of public health, occupational health and safety, chemistry and manufacture, residues in food, environmental safety, trade, and efficacy and target crop or animal safety. Submissions should state the grounds on which they are based. Comments received that address issues outside the relevant matters cannot be considered by the APVMA.

Submissions must be received by the APVMA by close of business on 5 June 2017 and be directed to the contact listed below. All submissions to the APVMA will be acknowledged in writing via email or by post.

Relevant comments will be taken into account by the APVMA in deciding whether the product should be registered and in determining appropriate conditions of registration and product labelling.

When making a submission please include:

• contact name
• company or group name (if relevant)
• email or postal address (if available)
• the date you made the submission.

All personal information, and confidential information judged by the APVMA to be confidential commercial information (CCI)[1] contained in submissions will be treated confidentially.

Written submissions on the APVMA’s proposal to grant the application for registration that relate to the grounds for registration should be addressed in writing to:

Case Management and Administration Unit

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority

PO Box 6182

Kingston ACT 2604

Phone: +61 2 6210 4701

Fax: +61 2 6210 4721

Email:

Preface1

Further information

Further information can be obtained via the contact details provided above.

Copies of technical evaluation reports covering toxicology, occupational health and safety aspects, residues in food and environmental aspects are available from the APVMA on request.

Further information on public release summaries can be found on the APVMA website: www.apvma.gov.au

Introduction1

1 Introduction

1.1 Purpose of application

Arysta Lifescience North America LLC has applied to the APVMA to register Amitron 700WG Herbicide, containing 700 g/kg amicarbazone water dispersible granule product for control of weeds in plant and ratoon sugarcane. Amicarbazone was approved as an active constituent in 2007. Amitron 700WG Herbicide is the first product containing amicarbazone proposed to be registered through the APVMA.

This publication provides a summary of the data reviewed and an outline of the regulatory considerations for the proposed registration of the product Amitron 700WG Herbicide.

1.2 Product claims and use pattern

Amitron 700WG Herbicide is intended for the control of a large variety of weeds in sugar cane crops. The product may be applied to both plant and ratoon cane, once per season. The product application rate ranges from 500 to 1000 g/ha, in a minimum water volume of 200 L/ha.

1.3 Mode of action

The active constituent, amicarbazone, is a member of the triazolinone group of herbicides. The mode of action is the inhibition of photosynthesis at photosystem II (PS II Inhibitors).

For weed resistance management, the product is a Group C herbicide.

1.4 Overseas registrations

Amicarbazone is registered in South Africa and Brazil on sugarcane and in the United States for turf.

Introduction1

2 Chemistry and manufacture

2.1 Active constituent

Amicarbazone is a colourless crystalline solid at room temperature. It is very soluble in polar organic solvents and sparingly soluble in water and non-polar organic solvents. Amicarbazone partitions in favour of n-octanol in H2O-octanol partitioning tests, but is not considered to present a bio-accumulation hazard. Amicarbazone is not explosive and is involatile under typical conditions. It is thermally stable at room temperature in air, and only decomposes when heating at temperatures above 180 °C. Amicarbazone is not a strong Brønsted acid or base.

The APVMA has evaluated the chemistry (manufacturing process, quality control procedures, batch analysis, analytical methods, physio-chemical properties and spectroscopic data) and toxicological aspects of the active constituent amicarbazone and found them to be acceptable. The active constituent was approved on
4 January 2007 under the approval number 60115.

Details of the chemical name, structure, and physiochemical properties of amicarbazone are tabulated below.

Table 1: Nomenclature of amicarbazone

COMMON NAME (ISO): / Amicarbazone
IUPAC NAME: / 4-amino-N-tert-butyl-4,5-dihydro-3-isopropyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-carboxamide
CAS REGISTRY NUMBER: / 129909-90-6
EMPIRICAL FORMULA: / C10H19N5O2
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: / 241.3 g/mol
STRUCTURAL FORMULA: /

Chemistry and manufacture1

Table 2: Physicochemical properties of amicarbazone

Appearance: / Colourless crystalline solid (pure substance, 99.6%)
Odour: / Uncharacteristic faint odour
Melting point: / 137.5 °C
Boiling point: / Not measurable - decomposition above 180 °C
Thermal stability: / Thermally stable at ambient temerature under air, with decomposition above 180 °C
Density: / 1.12 g/mL at 20 °C
Vapour pressure: / 1.3 x 10-6 Pa at 20 °C
3.0 x 10-6 Pa at 25 °C
Henry’s law constant: / 6.8 x 10-8 Pa m3 mol-1 at 20 °C
Solubility in water: / 4.6 g/L at 20 °C (pH 4-9)
Octanol / water partition coefficient: / 1.14 (unbuffered)
1.18 (pH 4)
1.23 (pH 7 and pH 9)
All reported as log Pow, at 25°C.
Solubility in organic solvents: / n-Heptane: 0.07 g/L
Xylene: 9.2 g/L
1-Octanol: 43 g/L
2-Propanol: 110 g/L
Ethyl acetate: 140 g/L
Polyethylene glycol: 79 g/L
Acetonitrile: > 250 g/L
Acetone: > 250 g/L
Dimethyl sulfoxide: > 250 g/L
Dichloromethane: > 250 g/L
Uv / visible absorption: / Peak maxima 221 nm; Molar absorptivity 7772 (1000 cm2/mol)
Photostability: / Amicarbazone does not undergo significant degredation when exposed to sunlight
Dissociation constant: / Amicarbazone technical has no acidic or basic properties in aqueous solutions and as the material has no conductivity in water, it does not dissociate.
Ph: / 7.06 (2.5% aqueous slurry)
Flash point: / Not applicable—solid at room temperature
Explodability: / Not applicable—solid at room temperature
Oxidation stability: / Amicarbazone is oxidised by weak and string oxidisers but is stable in a reducing agent
Corrosion characteristics: / Test materials: stainless steel #316, aluminium, brass, and HDPE are suitable for packaging and general use with amicarbazone. Plain steel and copper are not recommended as the test sample stained these materials although there was no significant loss of active ingredient for any of the materials tested.
Dangerous goods classification: / Not classified as a dangerous good

The following APVMA Active Constituent Standard has been established for amicarbazone active constituent.

CONSTITUENT / SPECIFICATION / LEVEL
Amicarbazone / Amicarbazone / Not less than 940 g/kg

2.2 Formulated product

The product Amitron 700WG Herbicide will be formulated overseas and packaged in a polypropylene bag inside a cardboard carton or High Density Polyethylene container or Polypropylene container, ranging from
1–20 kg. Suitable details of the product formulation, specifications for the ingredients, formulation process and quality control, product specifications, stability data for the product when stored in the proposed packaging, analytical methods for the active constituents in the product, and details of the packaging, were provided and evaluated.

Based on the assessment, the APVMA is satisfied that the product will remain stable when for at least 2 years under normal conditions in the proposed packaging.

Table 3: Identification of the proposed product

Distinguishing name: / Amitron 700WG Herbicide
Formulation type: / Water Dispersible Granule (WG)
Active constituent concentrations: / Amicarbazone (700 g/kg)

Chemistry and manufacture1

Table 4: Physicochemical properties of Amitron 700WG Herbicide

Appearance / Tan solid granular material, approximately 2 mm diameter
Odour / Slight odour
Bulk density / 480 g/L
Wettability / 45 seconds with swirling
Dustiness / Nearly dust free
Solubility in water / Disperses in water
Vapour pressure / 3.0 × 10-6 @ 25 C (amicarbazone)
Flammability / Does not contain a combustible liquid
Explosivity / No impact explosive characteristics are expected on the basis of the chemical nature of the formulation ingredients
Oxidising properties / Does not contain any ingredient which is considered to be an oxidising or reducing agent
Corrosiveness / Not corrosive to the test materials: plain steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, copper, HDPE, VER fibreglass, Monosol 7030 PVA
Dangerous goods classification / Not classified as a dangerous good
Pack sizes: / 1–20 kg
Packaging material: / Polypropylene bag inside cardboard carton or High Density Polyethylene container or Polypropylene container
PRODUCT STABILITY: / The product should remain within specifications for at least 2 years under normal conditions in a polypropylene bag inside a cardboard carton or High Density Polyethylene container or Polypropylene container

2.3 Recommendations

The APVMA has evaluated the chemistry aspects of Amitron 700WG Herbicide (manufacturing process, quality control procedures, stability, batch analysis results and analytical methods) and found them to be acceptable. The available storage stability data indicate that the formulated product is expected to remain stable for at least two years when stored under normal conditions.

Based on a review of the chemistry and manufacturing details the registration of Amitron 700WG Herbicide is supported from a chemistry perspective.

toxicological assessment1

3 Toxicological assessment

3.1 Evaluation of toxicology

The toxicological database for amicarbazone consists primarily of toxicity tests conducted using animals. In interpreting the data, it should be noted that toxicity tests generally use doses that are high compared with likely human exposures. The use of high doses increases the likelihood that potentially significant toxic effects will be identified. Findings of adverse effects in any one species do not necessarily indicate such effects might be generated in humans. From a conservative risk assessment perspective however, adverse findings in animal species are assumed to represent potential effects in humans, unless convincing evidence of species specificity is available. Where possible, considerations of the species specific mechanisms of adverse reactions weigh heavily in the extrapolation of animal data to likely human hazard. Equally, consideration of the risks to human health must take into account the likely human exposure levels compared with those, usually many times higher, which produce effects in animal studies. Toxicity tests should also indicate dose levels at which the specific toxic effects are unlikely to occur. Dose levels such as the No Observed-Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) are used to develop acceptable limits for dietary or other intakes (ADI and ARfD) at which no adverse health effects in humans would be expected.

Chemical class

Amicarbazone is a herbicide that kills weeds by inhibiting plant photosynthesis. Other herbicides which operate by the same mode of action are flucarbazone, procarbazone, azafenidin and carfentrazone ethyl.

Pharmacokinetics

After a single (radioactive labelled) oral administration to rats, amicarbazone was found to be readily absorbed, extensively metabolised and rapidly eliminated. The majority (≈ 91%) of the administered dose was excreted within 24 hours, with urine being the predominant route of elimination. Around 27% of the administered dose was excreted in faeces. Radioactivity levels in organs and tissues were generally very low, representing less than 1% of the total administered dose. Total radioactive residue levels were highest in liver followed by kidney, blood, gastrointestinal tract, spleen and adipose tissue. There appeared to be two main routes of detoxification and excretion for amicarbazone. The first route involved conjugation with glucuronic acid to form an N-glucuronide, which was excreted mainly in the faeces. The second route involved deamination and subsequent oxidation to form a variety of hydroxylated metabolites which were then excreted in the urine.

Acute toxicity

Based on the findings of the acute toxicity studies evaluated, amicarbazone has low oral, dermal and inhalational toxicity, with slight, transient eye irritation, but no skin irritation. Amicarbazone was not a skin sensitiser in the Buehler test.

Repeat-dose toxicity

In a 21-day dermal study in rats, no adverse effects were observed at the highest tested dose of 1000 mg/kg bw/d. In a 13-week dietary study in dogs, cholestasis in the liver was observed at approximately 30 mg/kg bw/d and higher. Increased circulating bile acid and cholesterol levels were also seen in a one-year dog study at a similar dose. Supplementary studies in rats were undertaken using diets containing amicarbazone to determine its effect on thyroid hormone levels and thyroid gland function. Serum levels of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were increased in both sexes at approximately 70 mg/kg bw/d; and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was reduced in males, but were unchanged in females. An increased incidence of thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia was seen in both sexes in a dose-dependent manner at the next higher doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg bw/d. In the liver, the activity of uridine glucuronosyl transferase (UDP-GT), a major pathway of thyroid hormone biotransformation (in rats and mice), detoxification and excretion for amicarbazone in rats, was markedly increased in a dose-dependent manner.

Thyroidal function (as measured by the discharge of iodide ion in response to perchlorate) and pituitary function (as measured by deiodinase activity) were also unaffected. Collectively these data suggest that the functional status of the thyroid and pituitary glands was not directly affected by treatment with amicarbazone and that alterations in circulating levels of thyroid hormones were most likely to be mediated through an increased hepatic metabolism and biliary excretion of T4 and T3-glucuronide, causing a stimulation of the thyroid gland. The increased excretion of thyroid hormones induces thyroid follicular cells to produce thyroid hormones leading to hyperplasia.