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New termite chemical open to misuse.

The Environment Centre is very concerned about the widespread use of a new termite-killing chemical in the NT. ‘Termidor’ is now the recommended replacement chemical for the highly dangerous organochlorine ‘Mirant’ (Mirex).

The active chemical constituent of Termidor is fipronil. Fipronil is highly toxic to a wide range of insects (e.g. bees and ants) and animals (e.g. lizards, frogs, fish, birds). There is increasing evidence that it is being misused to kill green ants and other native insects, which in turn are eaten by lizards or birds which are then killed as well.

Fipronil is banned in parts of Europe because of its toxicity to beneficial insects such as bees.

The NT Department of Primary Industry (DPIFM), which regulates chemical use in the NT, has decided to make termidor much more freely available to the public in the NT than is allowed anywhere else in Australia . Elsewhere it can only be purchased and used by licensed pest controllers, under a label specifying: “For professional use only; licensed pest control operators only”. In the NT, almost anyone can buy Termidor over the counter.

Once again a lower standard of public and environmental safety has been deemed acceptable by our pro-pesticide Department.

As well as being used around houses it is also being used on citrus, grape and mango crops. It is being used in both rural and suburban areas and in ways that are not specified on the label. There are many potential harmful impacts on people and wildlife as a result of widespread and improper use of fipronil.

The Environment Centre wants the use of fipronil/termidor to be much more tightly controlled (e.g. licensed pest controllers only) and the Department should be forced to monitor and report on all applications of this chemical. Instead of always promoting the increasing use of toxic chemicals, the Department should be putting far more effort into non-chemical responses to pest issues.

To find out more about this and other chemicals visit: www.pan-uk.org