AgroPages-More pesticide reviews in New Zealand-Agricultural news

The New Zealand Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) has selected the next three pesticides for review under its five-year reassessment programme. It will start examining the insecticide/acaricides, dichlorvos and trichlorfon, and the herbicide, methylarsinic acid.

The first part of the review process will involve gathering national and overseas information on health and environmental risks, examining use patterns in New Zealand and determining whether alternatives exist. “The reassessment will reconsider the adequacy of the safety precautions, or even whether the chemicals should still be used in New Zealand,” says the ERMA’s hazardous substances reassessments manager, Mike Morris.

Once the initial work is completed, the ERMA will seek public input on the risks and benefits of the pesticides, together with any recommendations. Public hearings may be held if they are requested.

The ERMA has drawn up a priority list of 20 pesticides to undergo reassessment). The first substance to complete the review process was the wood preservative, pentachlorophenol, which resulted in all uses being cancelled. Reassessments are under way on the insecticides, azinphos-methyl, endosulfan, parathion-methyl and the fumigant, methyl bromide.