Catch up on the latest hazardous substances news from the Environmental Protection Authority.
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Hazardous Substances
Update
October 2022
Kia ora
Welcome to the Environmental Protection Authority’s monthly wrap of news, decisions, and consultations involving hazardous substances.
HSNO (Hazardous Substances Assessments) Amendment Bill passes
The HSNO (Hazardous Substances Assessments) Amendment Bill, has received Royal Assent and entered into force on 1 November 2022. The changes will improve the processes for assessing hazardous substances and make them more transparent. They will also allow us to make better use of information from international regulators.
Reassessments to change hazard classifications and controls for existing chemicals will be streamlined via a simplified process. We will also publish a reassessments workplan with a list of substances and timeframes for the reassessments we initiate.
We are implementing the changes, including developing proposals for the international regulators, and preparing guidance on using informing from these overseas bodies. We will share further information on this work when available.
Public consultation opens on Actara insecticide
We are seeking your views on a reassessment application from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to increase the use of neonicotinoid insecticide Actara, only in response to a serious brown marmorated stink bug incursion.
The brown marmorated stink bug is one of the most serious biosecurity threats to New Zealand, with the potential to cause $1.2 billion in economic losses to the horticultural industry over 20 years.
Submissions close at midnight on 6 December 2022.
Import limits decided for hydrofluorocarbons
We have lowered import limits for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a group of harmful greenhouse gases used in heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration.
The limit for importing HFC gases has been reduced by more than 13 percent for 2023 (compared with 2021 and 2022) and will be decreased further every two years, in line with Ozone Layer Protection Regulations.
This year the EPA received 15 applications from wholesalers and individual businesses, requesting more than three times the amount available for allocation.
Fluazinam call for information
We are calling for information from the public, industries, and other interested parties on how fluazinam, a fungicide used mainly on grapes and potatoes, is used in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Submissions close at midnight on 14 November 2022.
Decision on diazinon, fenamiphos, and methamidophos reassessment
A decision-making committee has revised the expiry of the time-limited approvals for the organophosphate pesticides methamidophos and fenamiphos, and declined the application to extend the approval timeframes for diazinon.
After the expiry date, these substances will no longer be able to be imported or manufactured in New Zealand.
Hazard classifications changed for tebuconazole and propiconazole
A decision-making committee has approved changes to the hazard classifications for 125 substances containing the chemicals tebuconazole and propiconazole, following modified reassessments.
Recent EPA decisions
Containment
APP204451 by Adama New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture Adama Experimental Plant Protection Products in containment. Approved with controls 28/10/2022.
APP204483 by Syngenta Crop Protection Limited to import or manufacture SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION Experimental Plant Protection Compounds (B) in containment. Approved with controls 18/10/2022.
APP204484 by Syngenta Crop Protection Limited to import or manufacture SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION Experimental Plant Protection Compounds 2022 (C) in containment. Approved with controls 18/10/2022.
APP204488 by Adama New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture ADF 68 in containment. Approved with controls 28/10/2022.
APP204496 by Syngenta Crop Protection Limited to import or manufacture SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION Experimental Plant Protection Compounds 2022 (D) in containment. Approved with controls 18/10/2022.
APP204504 by Corteva AgriScience New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture Experimental pesticides (Discovery 8) in containment. Approved with controls 18/10/2022.
APP204516 by Adama New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture Adama Experimental Plant Protection Products in containment. Approved with controls 28/10/2022.
Pesticide
APP204462 by Renovo Technologies Limited to import or manufacture RF-078 for release. Approved with controls 3/10/2022.
Reassessment
APP204244 by Environmental Protection Authority to reassess (modified) tebuconazole and propiconazole. Decision notified 12/10/2022.
Amendments to approvals
No section 67A amendments have been decided this month.
