Hazardous Substances
Update

Kia ora

Welcome to the Environmental Protection Authority’s wrap of news, decisions, and consultations involving hazardous substances for September.

Update on proposed new weedkiller

We recently held a public hearing on the application to import or manufacture a new herbicide, Tower.

Tower is a pre-emergence herbicide for use in wheat and barley crops and contains chlorotoluron, an active ingredient new to Aotearoa New Zealand. 

The hearing was an opportunity for the decision-making committee to be fully informed on the application, and for the parties to provide information they believe is relevant to the application. 

Following the hearing, the decision-making committee will decide whether to close the hearing or request further information. Once the hearing is closed, the committee will begin its consideration of the application. 

Final Kigali allocations announced

On 22 August 2025, we published the proposed decision on special permits to import hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in 2026. Applicants had until 12 September 2025 to make submissions on the proposed decision. We received one submission. 

We considered the submission and decided to finalise the proposed decision without changes. 

We published the final decision, including final HFC allocations, on our website and sent permits out to applicants. They can begin to use these permits to import new bulk HFCs on 1 January 2026.

HFCs are widely used as refrigerants but are potent greenhouse gases. Under the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, New Zealand must phase down its consumption of HFCs by 2036.  

Up to 80 percent of New Zealand’s annual limit of new bulk HFCs is allocated to those holding grandparented eligibility. The remaining 20 percent (minimum) is allocated through special permits, which are open for anyone to apply.

Restricting three new Stockholm Convention chemicals

In May this year three new chemicals were added to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The convention is an international treaty to eliminate or restrict the production and use of POPs, which are highly toxic chemicals that do not readily degrade.

The three chemicals are chlorpyrifos, medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs), and long-chain perfluoro carboxylic acids, their salts, and related compounds (LC-PFCAs).

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide used as a broad-spectrum insecticide in a range of agricultural crops and for biosecurity purposes.

MCCPs are a complex group of chemicals widely used as plasticisers, additives in metalworking fluids, and in paints, sealants, and adhesives.

LC-PFCAs are a group of long-chain per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), used in firefighting foams, textiles, cosmetics, and food packaging materials.

We’re expecting the restrictions on these chemicals to come into effect in early 2027.  

Some specific exemptions have been included for the chemicals under the Stockholm Convention. These exemptions allow for certain uses to continue for limited time periods.

Shortly the EPA will be consulting on the proposals to add the chemicals to Schedule 2A of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO Act). Including the chemicals in the schedule will implement the restrictions in New Zealand in line with our international obligations. Our consultation will seek feedback on the restrictions and also on the need for the specific exemptions.

Final days: consultation on banning chlorthal-dimethyl

We are proposing to revoke the approval of the herbicide chlorthal-dimethyl after extensive reassessment of the chemical.

Public submissions close in a few days on Monday 6 October.

Consultation for proposed new herbicide closing soon

A reminder that consultation on a proposed new herbicide for use on fodder beet will close on Wednesday 8 October.

Trifix Herbicide contains triflusulfuron methyl, an active ingredient new to New Zealand, and is designed to target broadleaved weeds.

This application is part of our ongoing commitment to assess products with new active ingredients, providing new crop protection tools for New Zealand’s vital primary sector.

The product is intended for professional use in commercial settings and has been approved in Canada and the United States.

We’ve carried out risk assessments for the product and are now inviting feedback on this application.

Update on proposed group standard for treated seed

We’re currently analysing submissions as well as the further information we requested. 

Due to issues raised, a second round of public consultation is planned for early 2026, lasting around four weeks. 

Following this, we’ll prepare a submission analysis report which will be published on our website. A public hearing will be held where submitters who wish to be heard can present their submission to the decision-making committee. To allow for consultation and report writing, the hearing is now expected in the second half of 2026. 

Once the committee has sufficient information to make a decision, it will consider the information received. The committee’s decision will be publicly notified no more than 30 days after the hearing is closed.

Reminder about importers and manufacturers reporting requirements

Remember to ensure your record keeping will support your 2025 annual reporting, which is due to the EPA in early 2026. 

New organisms

As the agency responsible for regulating activities that affect New Zealand's environment, we also regulate new organisms. Visit the link below to see our recent news in this area.

Dates to note

3 December – PFAS in firefighting foams phase out ends and deadline to apply for permissions for C6 foams.

1 January 2026 – Some Cosmetic Products Group Standard changes come into effect.

1 January 2026 – Importers and manufacturers of certain hazardous substances must report the active ingredient quantities imported or manufactured during the previous year.

1 January 2026 – Manufacturers of certain explosives must report the quantities of explosives manufactured during the previous year.

1 January 2026 – Importers and manufacturers must provide additional business details, including their NZBN (if they have one) and the HSNO approval or group standard for their products.

8 January 2026 – Disposal deadlines of certain products containing chlorpyrifos start in 2026.

31 May 2026 – First annual reports are due, covering certain hazardous substances imported and manufactured, and certain explosives manufactured in 2025.

Please note, further dates may be added as they are confirmed.

Recent EPA decisions

Algaecide 

APP204749 by EcoSol to import or manufacture Lake Guard Oxy, a water-soluble powder containing up to 980 g/kg of sodium percarbonate, intended to be used on lakes by professionals using ground or water vehicle-based methods. Approved with controls 11 September 2025. 

Antifouling paint

APP204579 by Chugoku Paints B.V. to import or manufacture SEAJET 034 EMPEROR, an anti-fouling paint containing 414 g/L copper thiocyanate and 41 g/L zinc pyrithione. Approved with controls 8 September 2025.

Fungicide 

APP204648 by Adria New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture Panacea, a fungicide containing 62.5 g/L fluxapyroxad in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate for the control of fungal diseases in barley and wheat. Approved with controls 9 September 2025.

Insecticide

APP205015 by Syngenta Crop Protection Limited to import or manufacture CRUISER 600 FS, a seed treatment insecticide containing 600 g/L thiamethoxam, for the control of various insects in maize, sweetcorn, fodder beet and forage brassica. Approved with controls 9 September 2025.

Herbicide

APP204954 by Adria New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture Regime 20GR, a herbicide containing 20 g/kg oxadiazon in the form of granules, for use in turf and ornamentals. Approved with controls 2 September 2025.

Containment

APP205050 by Arxada NZ Limited to import or manufacture 16 substances for small-scale containment trials, field trials and laboratory testing to evaluate the efficacy and crop safety of a range of compounds. Approved with controls 11 September 2025.

APP205048 by FMC New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture into containment 22 substances for small-scale field trials in order to evaluate the efficacy and crop safety when used as plant protection products. Approved with controls 12 September 2025.

APP205054 by Sipcam New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture into containment three substances for field trials in order to evaluate the efficacy, crop safety and residue profiles of the substances to complete the appropriate and relevant registration dossiers. Approved with controls 17 September 2025.

Amendments to approvals and group standards

No amendments decided in September.

Reassessment 

No reassessments decided in September.

See a summary of recent amendments to approvals