Glyphosate

The City of South Perth is guided by regulatory advice from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) in relation to the use of glyphosate.

Glyphosate is a herbicide widely used to control weeds. Within Australia, there are over 500 products containing glyphosate registered for use by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Glyphosate like other pesticides is considered safe to use when all instructions on the label are followed.

Concerns about the safety of glyphosate have been broadly discussed and publicised in recent times. The advice of the APVMA is that products containing glyphosate are safe to use in accordance with the label instructions. The APVMA review considered the 2015 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) assessment and concluded that exposure to glyphosate does not pose a carcinogenic or genotoxic risk to humans.

Further information of Glyphosate and the assessments and findings of the APVMA can be found on the APVMA website (apvma.gov.au).

City use of glyphosate

The City’s contractors use Glyphosate Biactive; this formulation of Glyphosate has been specifically designed for use in environmentally sensitive areas and can be applied in aquatic areas according to label conditions and the relevant off-label permit (PER13333) issued by APVMA. The City does not undertake spraying over water, and application of Glyphosate Biactive near waterways is undertaken in a manner to minimise the risk of herbicide entering the waterway.

Appropriate signage will be displayed on moving vehicles and in strategic locations while weed spraying work is being undertaken. Weed control operations will be monitored by City staff to ensure compliance with safety guidelines.

Residents in the City of South Perth can be added to an exemption list so glyphosate is not used near their property. To be added to the list, contact the City’s Environmental Health Services on 9474 0777.