Hazardous Substances
Update

Kia ora

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

Help us to help you stay informed about hazardous substances. Please forward this newsletter to interested colleagues so they can sign up to receive the newsletter here: subscribe to HS Update

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Online portal makes hazardous substances reporting easier

We have launched a new online portal to help importers and manufacturers of hazardous substances meet new notification and reporting requirements, which came into effect on 1 January 2026.  

Under the new requirements, importers and manufacturers of certain hazardous substances are required to file an annual report for the 2025 calendar year by 31 May 2026. 

All importers and manufacturers of hazardous substances will need to provide their business details, however, not everyone needs to submit an annual report, just those importing or manufacturing certain substances.  

For more information about the new requirements, including which types of substances require annual reports please visit: Consolidated Hazardous Substances (Importers and Manufacturers) Notice 2015 | EPA 

To assist businesses with these new requirements we hosted a webinar on 25 February 2026, where we provided a run through on how to use the portal to submit an annual report, and answered a range of questions. 

A recording of this seminar can be found here: Hazardous substances annual reporting

Restricting three new Stockholm Convention POPs

Three new chemicals were recently added to the Stockholm Convention. Because New Zealand signed this convention, we must restrict the chemicals here. 

We are preparing to consult on the proposal to restrict three persistent organic pollutants (POPs).  Details will soon be available on our open consultations page. 

The proposal is to restrict:  

• Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate pesticide used as a broad-spectrum insecticide in a range of agricultural crops and for biosecurity purposes. The EPA has recently completed a reassessment of this substance. 
• 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 polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), used in firefighting foams, textiles, cosmetics, and food packaging materials. 

EPA approves biological control agent

We have approved the release of a leaf-feeding beetle (Blaptea elguetai) as a biological control agent to combat Chilean flame creeper (Tropaeolum speciosum), an invasive weed in Aotearoa New Zealand that spreads quickly and smothers native plants. It is now a threat in many regions.  

Environment Southland, on behalf of the National Biocontrol Collective, applied to import the beetle as removing the weed by hand or using herbicides is not very effective, takes a lot of time, and can harm nearby plants.   

Recent rule changes already in effect added to calendar

Based on your feedback, we've added a new page to our calendar of upcoming hazardous substances rule changes. You can now see both: 

Upcoming rule changes – the existing page covers changes that come into effect in the future, including phase-outs and transitional periods 

Recent rule changes that are now in effect – the new page covers changes that came into effect in the past 12 months. 

If you have any suggestions for ways the calendar could work better for you, please email: webmaster@epa.govt.nz

New labelling requirements on weedkiller clopyralid

We urge people selling and using clopyralid weedkillers to follow the rules, including any restrictions on use, and the safe disposal of sprayed weeds and lawn clippings. 

Clopyralid is used to control weeds in sports turf, lawns, and on farms. If plants sprayed with the substance get into compost, the compost can harm some garden plants. 

We have recently amended the transition period to allow clopyralid-containing substances to continue to be sold with the older labels by resellers for an extra year, in order to account for stock remaining in the market. 

From 12 March 2026:  

• importers and manufacturers of clopyralid products must have updated their labels and be supplying product with the new labels. 
• suppliers can continue selling products with the old labels, as long as it was acquired before 12 March 2026. 

From 12 March 2027: 

• suppliers of clopyralid products must only sell products with the updated label. 

Engagement with industry

In February, EPA kaimahi had many valuable opportunities to meet with and build relationships with industry leaders and others at conferences. This is increasing their understanding of hazardous substances use in sectors that underpin our economy. Click on LinkedIn links to read more. They attended: 

• The Farmed Landscapes Research Centre conference at Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa in Palmerston North. 
• A demonstration day held by the New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Association and Groundspread NZ.      
• A visit hosted by New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated to learn about kiwifruit growing operations  
• A visit to Corteva Agriscience in New Plymouth, to learn about product development and field trials. 
• The inaugural New Zealand Biological Symposium in Tauranga. 
• Horticulture NZ Cross Pollination Day in Levin to get out in the field with horticulturists. 
• A meeting with Environment Protection Authority Victoria.    

Give us feedback so we can improve HS Updates

What sort of updates would you like to receive from the hazardous substances team? We want to hear from you! Please provide feedback by email: media@epa.govt.nz

New calendar of rule changes

You can now find the key dates for upcoming hazardous substances rule changes in one place. Our new calendar lets you know what you have to do, and when.

Dates to note

1 January to 31 May 2026 – First annual reports are due for 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

Fungicide

APP205129 by Adria New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture Superio, an agricultural fungicide for ryegrass seed crops and wheat, containing 100 g/L benzovindiflupyr. Approved with controls 13 February 2026. 

Herbicide

APP204944 by Dulux Group (New Zealand) Proprietary Limited to import or manufacture Yates Weed ‘n’ Feed Weed Killer & Lawn Fertiliser, a home garden herbicide and fertiliser containing 85.6 g/L MCPA and 13.1 g/L dicamba as the dimethylamine salts for weed control in lawns. Approved with controls 23 February 2026. 

APP205010 by Evergreen Garden Care New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture Roundup TNG Concentrate Weedkiller, a herbicide containing 25 g/L triclopyr as the butoxyethanol ester and 25 g/L fluazifop-P as the butyl ester for spot treatment of weeds in home gardens. Approved with controls 30 January 2026. 

Insecticide

APP205059 by RB (Hygiene Home) New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture Mortein Fast Knockdown Multi Insect Killer, a home use aerosol spray insecticide containing 0.5 g/kg transfluthrin, 0.3 g/kg permethrin and 0.2 g/kg imiprothrin. Approved with controls 17 February 2026. 

APP205060 by RB (Hygiene Home) New Zealand Limited to import or manufacture Mortein Powergard Multi Insect Killer Aerosol, a home use aerosol spray insecticide containing 0.8 g/kg transfluthrin, 0.5 g/kg imiprothrin and 0.3 g/kg permethrin. Approved with controls 17 February 2026. 

APP205063 by S.C. Johnson & Son Proprietary Limited to import or manufacture SCJ_203131, a ready to use insecticide bait for ants and cockroaches containing 9.6 g/kg indoxacarb (sufficient to give 5 g/kg S-isomer). Approved with controls 26 January 2026. 

APP205084 by Renovo Technologies Limited to import or manufacture RF-103, an insecticidal paint additive containing 25 g/L bifenthrin. Approved with controls 28 January 2026. 

APP205094 by Setanta Investments Proprietary Limited (trading as ProBrands Innovations) to import or manufacture Yates Home Pest Cockroach Super Baits, a bait containing 2.5 g/kg indoxacarb for the control of cockroaches in the home. Approved with controls 29 January 2026. 

APP205095 by Setanta Investments Proprietary Limited (trading as ProBrands Innovations) to import or manufacture Yates Home Pest Ant Super Baits, a bait supplied in a secure bait station containing 20 g/kg hydramethylnon for the control of ants in the home. Approved with controls 24 February 2026. 

Industrial chemical

APP205045 by Sabre Adhesives Limited to import or manufacture SabreGrip 540N, an industrial spray adhesive to be used by professionals. Approved with controls 30 January 2026. 

Containments

APP205113 by Department of Conservation to import or manufacture in containment Proterma Predator Bait, containing 0.25 g/kg of the active ingredient sodium fluoroacetate for pen trials to control feral cats, mustelids (stoats, ferrets and weasels) and hedgehogs. Approved with controls 13 February 2026. 

APP205125 by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research to import or manufacture in containment PAPP predator bait 2026, containing 6.7 g/kg of the active ingredient 4’-aminopropiophenone for cage trials to control feral cats and ferrets. Approved with controls 13 February 2026. 

APP205135 by Donaghys Limited to use an already approved substance in containment for small-scale laboratory and field trials in order to evaluate a novel use pattern for seed treatment. Approved with controls 12 February 2026. 

Reassessment applications

APP205012 by ISK Ltd to reassess Mainman to increase the application rate to allow use on apples and pears. Reassessment approved on 28 January 2026. 

Grounds for reassessments

APP205090 by BASF to determine if there are grounds to reassess HSR000426 - Soluble concentrate containing 480 g/litre. Decided grounds exist for reassessment on 16 January 2026. 

See a summary of recent amendments to approvals