Australian grain industry warns of costly delays from new phosphine limits

Safe Work Australia will tighten workplace exposure limits for the fumigant phosphine, cutting the permissible level by about 80 % to 0.05 ppm effective 1 December. GrainCorp’s head of supply chain, Josh Connell, told the Australian Grains Industry Conference that the stricter limit could force ventilation periods in grain bunkers to rise from two days to as much as 40 days, adding significant time and expense. He said the lower threshold also makes it “pretty difficult to manage” and to test for phosphine on site.

Grain Trade Australia chairman Ole Houe echoed the concerns, arguing the new rules provide little meaningful protection for workers and are “almost impossible to comply with and to measure locally”. Both speakers noted the industry was not fully consulted on the changes and is now trying to catch up, while pointing to international examples where regulators have balanced socioeconomic benefits with health protections.