The EU is considering banning Australian tea tree oil after a study raised concerns about potential reproductive risks, a move industry leaders warn could devastate exports and trigger global impacts.
Australia's tea tree oil industry is facing a high-stakes threat from the European Union which could dismantle its $40 million export market. The EU is considering legislation to reclassify the essential oil as a Category 1B reproductive toxin.
If the reclassification goes ahead industry leaders say it would effectively end the product's viability in the European market and potentially trigger a global collapse in demand for Australian tea tree oil. Across northern NSW there are just under 5,000 hectares of commercial plantations of farmed tea trees.The families who have farmed these native trees in northern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland for generations said it could destroy their livelihoods. Dee-Ann Seccombe, CEO of DownUnder Enterprises and a third-generation producer, said the industry was well known and safe. "Tea tree has had probably, along with lavender oil, the most published scientific papers, peer reviewed, globally on the therapeutic properties of tea tree oil," Ms Seccombe said. "So tea tree is best known for its use in acne products, but it's also great in medicinal care, wound care, people use it for home cleaning pet care."The reclassification threat arose after a study to test tea tree oil's safety for use as an agricultural pesticide force-fed rats large quantities of the oil. Ms Seccombe said the industry has a major issue with the methodology of trials in the study as tea tree oil should only be used in topical application and not ingested. Ms Seccombe is concerned about the impact the EU decision will have on the Australian tea tree industry."The rats were force-fed raw tea tree oil in massive quantities that would never be done because we don't drink tea tree, and particularly in the quantities that those rats were given,""Quite frankly, it's amazing the rats lived. But in the male rats there were some reproductive issues. So of course the industry has an issue with that because of the way tea tree was administered in the quantity it was administered.""Unfortunately, the EU has taken a negative view of tea tree oil. It has taken the view that it is a reproductive toxin," she saidThe Australian Tea Tree Industry Association argues the EU is prioritising "hazard" over "risk". Tim Valentiner, who is spearheading ATTIA's efforts globally, said the European approach is significantly different to other major markets like the United States. meeting came out, it was gut-wrenching."("I mean, you wake up in the morning, and you just go, how did this happen?"Watch ABC TV's Landline at 12:30pm AEST on Sunday or stream anytime on
Australia Tea Tree Industry EU Ban Tea Tree Oil Tea Tree Oil Safety Reproductive Toxin EU Essential Oils Regulation Australian Exports EU ATTIA Tea Tree Oil Study Rats EU Chemical Laws Hazard Vs Risk Regulation Natural Products Safety
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