Part 2
Experiments with volunteers wearing different combinations of clothing found that certain flea powders posed "an unacceptable risk to householders applying these products".
In January the authority reported: "Based on the data provided it was found that user exposure from home veterinary dust preparations for the treatment of companion animals and birds is likely to exceed the acceptable daily intake and recommended acute reference dose."
A lack of information meant it was not possible to "ensure an adequate margin of safety" for carbaryl dusts used to treat carpets, rugs and animal bedding.
Using carbaryl on food plants in a domestic garden was also risky because there was insufficient information to ensure that people eating the food were getting an acceptable dose, the authority said.
All manufacturers of the cancelled products the Herald bought said they had stopped making them and that remaining stock was being sold off. But all products were still featured on the manufacturers' websites without the pesticide authority's warnings.
On the Yates website, the material safety data sheets for Hortico Tomato Dust and Yates Tomato Gun state: "No adverse health effects expected if the product is handled in accordance with this safety data sheet and the product label."
Lisa Walters, communications manager for the Yates parent company, Orica Limited, said the products were approved for sale until November next year. Their labelling had been approved and could not be changed.
"The APVMA has not advised, based on its findings, that more consumer information about this product than is already provided is warranted," she said.
John Poiner, of Saint Bernard Pet Care Pty Ltd, said the company now made a less toxic flea powder than the cancelled Saint Bernard Flea Powder for Dogs and Cats. When told that this was still advertised on his company's website, he had it removed.
Mark James, NSW business manager for Mavlab, which made two cancelled varieties of Fido's Fre-Itch Flea Powder for cats and dogs, said a "minimal" amount was still on sale. "It is not a recall … We are a responsible animal health company," he said.
He was surprised the powders still featured on Mavlab's website and said they should not be there.
Ian Macey, Amgrow's marketing manager, said customers who contacted the company were told that Garden King Carbaryl liquid insecticide's registration was cancelled, but he agreed that otherwise it was not easy for consumers to get such information. "Getting that knowledge out to the consumer is a major issue," he said. The company's website "currently needs some major upgrades".
