Chemical name:

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Pesticide

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Banned

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

Placing on the market as adjuvant or used as a substance or constituent of preparations, including co-formulants (inerts) in fertilizers, stock remedies and agricultural remedies.

Pesticide use or uses that remain allowed:

No pesticide use allowed.

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: Yes

Summary of the final regulatory action:

Reasons for severely restricting Nonylphenol Ethoxylates is due to its risk to human health and the environment- Oestrogenic Activity on wildlife (acquatic and land animals); and its discharge into the natural resources - Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates are commonly used in industrial and domestic cleaning products, pesticides, paints, and other products as wetting agents. NPEs and NPs have been found in sewage effluent and natural water systems in the Republic of South Africa and range of other countries (e.g. Australia 2007; United Kingdom and the EU) at concentrations that would be likely to cause adverse environmental effects. Due to the mismanagement of its use. Research has shown that the different uses of Nonylphenol are not properly applied or managed in an environmentally sound manner and therefore this has resulted in discharge of the chemical in the natural water resources and this has raised concerns by both the research intitutions as well as the Department of Environmental Affairs (DNA).

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to: Human health and environment

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

Final Regulatory Action was taken to protect human health from the following:

Acute Toxicity: NP causes skin corrosion. Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.

Reproductive Toxicity (including developmental toxicity): Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child. Exposure to EDCs such as Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates have implicated in a variety of urogenital disorders in men including testicular abnormalities.

Endocrine disruption: Has estrogenic effects-environmental chemical with oestrogenic activity which mimic the natural hormones found in humans.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to human health:

It is expected that the reduction in the importation of Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates would result in significant decrease in the quantity of the chemical used. As a result, reproductivitive toxicity as well as developmental toxicity will decline in the country.

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

Acute/chronic acquatic toxicity: Very toxic and wildlife such as fish and antelopes. It causes testicular abnormalities which affect the animal' s reproduction. Significant amounts of Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates have shown to be bioaccumulative in fat cells of wild animals such as the eland. Spermatogenesis (the generation of sperms). In affected males was impaired and the defected sperms cannot reproduce. Bioaccumulatio: Moderately bioaccumulative Persistence: Not ready biodegradabile and persistence increases with branching.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to the environment:

As a result the environmental impacts such as acquatic toxicity will decline.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 31/05/2010