Chemical name: 4,7-Methano-1H-indene, 1,4,5,6,7,8,8-heptachloro-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-

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:

All uses

Pesticide use or uses that remain allowed:

None

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: No

Summary of the final regulatory action:

Directive No. 329 of 2 September 1985 - Ministry of Agriculture - Prohibit the trade, use and distribution of the pesticides for agricultural use, including heptachlor.

Resolution RDC No. 347 of 16 December of 2002 - National Health Surveillance Agency - exclude the heptachlor from the list of toxics substances, which can be authorized as pesticides.

Law No. 7.802 of 11 July 1989 and Decree No. 4.074 of 4 January 2002 - Pesticides and its compounds need to be registered by the Federal Authority prior to produce, export, import, trade or use.

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

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health: Heptachlor is generally not detectable in the human population, but heptachlor epoxide has been found in human fat, blood, organs, and milk. In localities where heptachlor was used regularly, it has been found at higher concentrations in human milk than in dairy milk.

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

Control its use the only for wood preservative as authorized by Federal body of Environment, Health.

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

Heptachlor is moderately to highly toxic to bird species. Heptachlor and its more potent metabolite, heptachlor epoxide, have been found in the fat of fish and birds. They have also been found in the liver, brain, muscle, and eggs of birds. Both heptachlor and the epoxide are very highly toxic to most fish species tested. The reported 96-hour LC50 values are: 5.3 to 13 µg/L in bluegill sunfish; 7.4 to 20 µg/L in rainbow trout, 6.2 µg/L in northern pike, 23 µg/L in fathead minnow and 10 µg/L in largemouth bass. Heptachlor is also very highly toxic to freshwater aquatic invertebrates (like snails, worms, crayfish, etc.). Heptachlor is also toxic to marine aquatic life, but its toxicity varies highly from species to species; crustacean and younger life stages of fish and invertebrates are most sensitive. Both heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide have been shown to bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms such as fish, mollusks, insects, plankton, and algae. It has been found in several fish, molluscs, and other aquatic species at concentrations of 200 to 37,000 times the concentration of heptachlor in the surrounding waters.

Effects on other organisms: Heptachlor is highly toxic to bees.

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

Prevent misuse of this chemical by users.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 16/12/2002