New Zealand invites input on review of 29 insecticides

The New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is calling for submissions from the public on its reassessment of a group of insecticides currently approved for use in New Zealand.

The formal application being released relates to a group of 29 organophosphate and carbamate active ingredients, or formulations containing these active ingredients, that are used for plant protection purposes. The application includes a number of recommendations for these substances, including recommendations either to revoke, phase-out or retain some approvals.

A final decision will be made in June 2013 by an independent Hazardous Substances and New Organisms decision-making committee of the EPA. It will consider the application, public submissions and any other information it receives through the consultation process, including during public hearings which are due to be held in March 2013.

Organophosphate and carbamate-based insecticides provide a range of important benefits for the agricultural industry and are used on a variety of agricultural and horticultural crops in New Zealand, including vegetables and fruit as well as in grain silos. They are also used for biosecurity plant protection purposes including the treatment of imported root stocks and for the control of pest species new to New Zealand.

However, there is concern both in New Zealand and overseas about the harmful effects these substances can have on human health and the environment. These concerns have led some overseas regulatory authorities to ban or restrict the use of some of these insecticides and led the EPA to establish that there were sufficient grounds to reassess their approvals.

The decision to use an integrated approach to reassess the substances is seen as one that will benefit industry. All of the substances are used in a similar way and on similar crops, so placing restrictions on the use of one substance may result in an increased use of another that has a higher risk. By assessing them as a group, consistent and effective controls can be placed on all the substances, providing industry with more certainty about the tools available to them.

In the process of carrying out its preliminary assessment over the past year, the EPA consulted widely and evaluated both the positive and negative effects organophosphate and carbamate-based pesticides have on the economy, health, the environment and Māori interests. The application sets out the results of these findings and includes a consultation report detailing the EPA’s recommendations about the continued use of these substances.

The proposed recommendations include:

• revoking the approvals for 12 substances and/or formulations containing them

• phasing out nine substances and/or formulations containing them over the next three to ten years

• retaining approvals for eight of the substances and/or formulations containing them with additional controls to manage risks.

The EPA’s Applications and Assessment Manager, Sarah Gardner, says that public submissions are a crucial part of the reassessment process.

"The reassessment application contains preliminary recommendations only, based on the information we have gathered from within New Zealand and overseas over the past year. While our preliminary consultation and assessment process has been thorough and comprehensive, we welcome any additional information that can be provided about these substances which will help the committee to make a decision that is best for New Zealand.”

"We look forward to receiving feedback from any interested party on any aspect of the reassessment,” Mrs Gardner says.

Submissions close on 22 January 2013.