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For control of insect pests of stored products in certain situations and for control of rabbits in burrows as specified in the Directions for Use table.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
BEFORE using PESTEX this product you should consider the following:
Timing of treatment – If it will be necessary to move grain/commodity before the Total Fumigation Period has expired, then fumigation should NOT be commenced. Movement of treated commodities or empty containers during application, fumigation exposure or ventilation risks exposure of transport and handling workers and the public to harmful levels of phosphine and is contrary to label instruction.
The Total Fumigation Period is the sum of the time required for Exposure to phosphine and the time needed to Ventilate the grain. A shortened Exposure Period will not be effective for storage pest control and a reduced Ventilation Period poses a serious risk of phosphine gas poisoning to workers and bystanders. In addition a Withholding Period of two days is required after completion of ventilation before the grain is allowed to be used for human consumption or for animal feed. See Notes 4 & 5 for a detailed description of the Minimum Exposure Period and the Ventilation Period.
Safety and handling of the product – Phosphine is a highly dangerous fumigant and fumigation should only be undertaken in situations where the safety of workers and the public can be ensured. Observe all RESTRAINTS, PRECAUTIONS and instructions on the label.
Restraints:
DO NOT fumigate in inhabited buildings.
DO NOT fumigate in work situations where there is risk that phosphine gas could leak from fumigation enclosures into working areas.
DO NOT use on commodities, or in empty containers, railcars or vessels that are in transit or likely to be in transit during the Exposure and/or Ventilation Periods.
DO NOT use in road transport vehicles (including a truck or road hauled container).
DO NOT heap tablets. Heaped tablets limit gas release.
DO NOT add water to the tablets.
DO NOT use when the commodity temperature is less than 150C or the relative humidity within the structure is less than 25% or, with raw cereal grains, the moisture content is less than 9%.
DO NOT apply in structures which are not well sealed*.
DO NOT apply as a surface-only treatment in a structure whose height exceeds twice its width, unless the structure/enclosure has a gas recirculation device fitted.

RAW CEREAL GRAINS
(such as barley, maize, millets, oats, rice, rye, sorghum, triticale, wheat)
OTHER FOOD COMMODITIES
(such as flour and other milled cereal products, breakfast cereals, dried fruits, dried vegetables, dried pulses, other dried foods, peanuts, oilseeds, cocoa and coffee beans)
Pest / Commodity / Situation (See Note 1 for description of well sealed* and Note 2 for storage pests controlled):
Storage pests in: Well-sealed* structures such as:- fumigation enclosures, grain storage sheds, silos, and structures which are suitable for fumigation;
Raw cereal grains (such as barley, maize, millets, oats, rice, rye, sorghum, triticale, wheat); Other food commodities (such as flour and other milled cereal products, breakfast cereals, dried fruits, dried vegetables, dried pulses, other dried foods, peanuts, oilseeds, cocoa and coffee beans); Seeds for propagation; Bulk stockfeeds.
Application (See Note 3):
Basic rate (g. phosphine per m3): 1.5
Dosage (number of tablets3):3 tablets per 2 m3
Fumigation period# #[Total of the minimum exposure period plus ventilation period]:
Minimum exposure period (See Note 4): 7 days when commodity temperature is above 250C.
10 days when commodity temperature is above 150C to 250C.
20 days for surface only application to bulk commodities in well-sealed* structures greater than 375 m3 capacity (e.g. greater than 300 tonnes wheat).
Ventilation period (See Note 4): 1-5 days
Withholding period: 2 days
Total of (Exposure + ventilation + withholding): 10-14 days; 13-17 days; 23-27 days

TOBACCO
Pest / Commodity / Situation (See Note 1 for description of well sealed* and Note 2 for storage pests controlled): Tobacco in bales, cases, hogsheads in well-sealed* fumigation enclosures.
Application (See Note 3):
Basic rate (g. phosphine per m3): 1.5
Dosage (number of tablets3):3 tablets per 2 m3
Fumigation period# #[Total of the minimum exposure period plus ventilation period]:
Minimum exposure period (See Note 4): 7 days
Ventilation period (See Note 4): 2-3 days
Withholding period: Nil
Total of (Exposure + ventilation + withholding): 9-10 days

Pest / Commodity / Situation (See Note 1 for description of well sealed* and Note 2 for storage pests controlled): Well-sealed* empty warehouses, elevators, stores structures and enclosures.
Application (See Note 3):
Basic rate (g. phosphine per m3): 1.5
Dosage (number of tablets3):3 tablets per 2 m3
Fumigation period# #[Total of the minimum exposure period plus ventilation period]:
Minimum exposure period (See Note 4): 7 days when temperature is above 250C. 10 days when temperature is 150 to 250C.
Ventilation period (See Note 4): 1-5 days
Withholding period: Nil
Total of (Exposure + ventilation + withholding): 8-12 days; 11-15 days

Notes:
1. FUMIGATION WILL CONTROL ALL STAGES OF INSECTS ONLY IN STRUCTURES/ENCLOSURES THAT ARE WELL-SEALED*.
Well-sealed structures/enclosures are fumigation chambers, well-sealed silos, sheds and buildings, and other fumigation enclosures make gas-tight with gas-proof sheeting. Well-sealed means permanent sealing porous surfaces, seams and cracks and temporary sealing of intake and/or outlet valves, doors, fan housings, windows and hatches. For further information see appropriate industry advisory documents such as Grains Research and Development Corporation ‘Advice’ sheet ‘$ealed $ilos $ave’, available from State Departments of Agriculture or Primary Industries. Increasing the application rate will not compensate for gas loss from an unsealed enclosure.
Note: Structures MUST BE well-sealed. If they are not, fumigation will not give adequate control, and would be contrary to label directions.
2. STORAGE PESTS include: Lesser Grain Borer, Cadelle, Cigarette Beetle, Confused Flour Beetle, Dried Fruit Beetle, Flat Grain Beetle, Merchant Grain Beetle, Red-legged Ham Beetle, Rust-red Flour Beetle, Sawtoothed Grain Beetle, Skin and Hide Beetle, Spider Beetles, Warehouse Beetle, Angoumois Grain Moth, Indian Meal Moth, Mediterranean Flour Moth, Mottled Grain Moth, Raisin Moth, Tobacco Moth, Tropical Warehouse Moth, Psocids, Stored Products Mites, Bean Weevil, Coffee Bean Weevil, Granary Weevil, Maize Weevil, Pea Weevil and Rice Weevil. Approved treatment dosages will also kill any cockroaches, rats and mice present.
3. PHOSPHINE APPLICATION RATES are based on the internal volume of the structures to be fumigated; they apply equally to full or partly filled or empty structures and they apply to all commodities. The commodity equivalent rates (g/tonne) should only be used when the commodity stowage factor is known, they apply only when the storage structures are full or nearly full or when part-filled structures are dosed on the tonnage equivalents of their internal volumes. The calculated commodity dosage must be based on the rate per volume. The application rate of 1.5 g phosphine per 1 metre3 is equivalent to:

Capacity of fumigation enclosure
Tonnes wheat: 20
Bushels: 730
Cubic metres: 27
Number tablets: 40

Tonnes wheat: 50
Bushels: 1830
Cubic metres: 65
Number tablets: 100

Tonnes wheat: 100
Bushels: 3660
Cubic metres: 130
Number tablets: 200

Tonnes wheat: 300
Bushels: 11000
Cubic metres: 375
Number tablets: 600

4. MINIMUM EXPOSURE PERIODS are needed to allow products to react to completion and to expose insects for long enough to kill all stages. A SHORTENED EXPOSURE PERIOD CANNOT BE COMPENSATED FOR BY INCREASED DOSAGE. Insect death and reaction of the tablets are both slower at lower temperatures. Temperatures specified are those within the commodity to be fumigated. The minimum exposure period should start from time of completion of application of product.
5. VENTILATION PERIOD – ON COMPLETION OF EXPOSURE PERIOD:
Ventilation of structures is complete only when phosphine concentrations measured at appropriate locations in the enclosure and work area are below the Threshold Limit Value – Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA) exposure standard of 0.3 ppm. The following are minimum ventilation periods required and may need to be increased to ensure the exposure standard is not exceeded.
Minimum Ventilation Periods:
Structures, including bunker storages, containing treated commodities:
a) Without throughflow (i.e. access only through the headspace): not less than 5 days
b) With throughflow and natural draught (wind): for structures of 300 tonnes or greater capacity: 2 to 5 days depending on size.
For structures of less than 300 tonnes capacity: 2 days
c) With throughflow and forced draught (flash-proof fan) operated 2 hours on and 2 hours off: not less than 1 day.
Tobacco: In bales: not less than two days. In cases and hogsheads: not less than 3 days.
Empty Buildings and Enclosures:
a) Without throughflow: 5 days
b) With throughflow and natural draught (wind): for structures of 300 tonnes or greater capacity: not less than 2 days, depending on structure size, openings an prevailing wind speed.
For structures of less than 300 tonnes capacity: 2 days
c) With throughflow and forced draught (flash-proof fan) operated 2 hours on and 2 hours off: 1 to 2 days depending on size of structure.

WITHHOLDING PERIOD:
DO NOT USE TREATED PRODUCE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION OR FOR STOCK FEED FOR 2 DAYS AFTER COMPLETION OF FUMIGATION
(MINIMUM EXPOSURE PLUS VENTILATION PERIOD).
TOBACCO: NOT REQUIRED WHEN USED AS DIRECTED.
TREATED COMMODITIES MAY BE SHIPPED AFTER COMPLETION OF THE MINIMUM EXPOSURE PERIOD PLUS VENTILATION PERIOD.

RABBIT CONTROL:
DIRECTIONS FOR USE (Qld, NSW, Vic, SA, WA only):

Situation: Burrow
Rate: 1 or 2 tablets per lead
Critical comments: Cut back around hole to expose other leads or tunnels for treatment and to provide adequate depth for the soil plug to close the opening after treatment.
Place tablets well down the tunnel to avoid accidental covering by the soil plug.
Fill the opening with ample soil and firm down well. Leave the surface as level as possible to discourage attention from outside rabbits.
Effectiveness will be increased in any soil condition if tablets are wrapped in moistened paper prior to insertion in the hole.

NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, OR IN ANY MANNER, CONTRARY TO THIS LABEL UNLESS AUTHORISED UNDER APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
PESTEX® releases phosphine gas when exposed to air. Phosphine penetrates throughout the commodity to kill eggs, larvae, pupae and adult stages of storage pests in sealed enclosures, but some eggs, pupae and adults will survive in unsealed enclosures (see Note 1 above).
Protect by sealing or otherwise, sensitive electrical and electronic equipment (computers, meters, switches, fire alarm systems, etc) containing copper/copper alloy components, photographic film or copy paper. Phosphine corrodes copper based materials.

APPLICATION
Fumigation of Commodities in Silos and Bulk Storages: Place the tablets in a single layer and separated from the commodity e.g. on non-flammable trays/sheets which are evenly spread on the commodity surface inside the storage.
Fumigation of Commodities under Gas Proof Sheeting: Place tablets spaced from each other on non-flammable sheets/trays distributed between and/or alongside stacked commodities in a manner that allows free circulation of gas. Ensure that the sheeting is sealed in a gas-tight manner after application.
Fumigation of empty storages/enclosures: Place tablets spaced from each other on non-flammable sheets/trays evenly spread in the enclosure; with application starting at the further point from the exit door. Ensure the enclosure is made gas-tight. Lock and seal exit door after application.

INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE WARNING
For insecticide resistance management PESTEX® Fumigation Tablets is a Group 24A insecticide. Some naturally occurring insect biotypes resistant to PESTEX and other Group 24A insecticides may exist through normal genetic variability in any insect population. The resistant individuals can eventually dominate the insect population if PESTEX or other Group 24A insecticides are used repeatedly. The effectiveness of PESTEX on resistant individuals could be significantly reduced.
Since the occurrence of resistant insects is difficult to detect prior to use, Adama Australia Pty. Ltd. accepts no liability for any losses that may result from the failure of PESTEX to control resistant insects. Application of PESTEX in unsealed storages/enclosures and use of low dose rates and shortened exposure periods is contrary to label instruction and will contribute to development of resistance.

Rabbit Control
Phosphine from PESTEX Fumigation Tablets acts as a respiratory, metabolic and nerve poison. Best results are achieved if the area to be treated is “dogged” thoroughly before the operation starts, to ensure that all the rabbits are in their warrens.
FLAMMABLE – Keep away from naked flame.

PRECAUTIONS
Show the following warning sign prominently at all approaches to every fumigation site.
“DANGER – POISON GAS – KEEP AWAY”

Keep animals, children and unauthorised persons away from the area under treatment until the area is shown to be free from phosphine as indicated by a gas measuring device.
Warning: Containers must be opened in the open air. Whilst opening containers take care and point containers away from the face and body, as under certain conditions possible build-up of gas may result in flash flame upon exposure to air.
Application rates higher than label directions and contrary to label instruction could cause the gas concentrations to reach the lower flammability level which is 1.79% by volume (17,900 parts per million). When used according to the label directions, the amount of gas produced remains far below the lower flammability level.

RE-ENTRY PERIOD
After application, wait until the Exposure Period has passed, then thoroughly ventilate for the required Ventilation Period and to the required Standard. Re-entry to fumigation areas is not recommended until measuring device(s) indicate that they are free of phosphine. The use of gas detection tubes or other measuring devices is recommended for monitoring gas levels in fumigation areas as phosphine gas may still be present even after treated commodities have been removed and fumigation areas ventiliated.
DO NOT re-enter a storage after application has commenced or once treated grain/commodity has been emptied without wearing a full face respirator with particulate (P1) and phosphine gas filter cartridge (canister) or self-contained breathing apparatus, until a measuring device indicates that it is free of phosphine or the Total Fumigation Period (Minimum Exposure Period plus Ventilation Period) has elapsed.