Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

ERMA bans use of herbicide

Updated at 6:06 am on 15 May 2009

ERMA has revoked approvals for the import, manufacture and use of a herbicide used to control pest grasses in fine turf.

The Environmental Risk Management Authority had been reassessing the use of methylarsinic acid, MSMA, as part of a wider review into the on-going use of some agrichemicals.

The herbicide is an arsenic-based, persistent agrichemical that ERMA says has the potential to accumulate in the environment and to impact on human health.

ERMA says MSMA will now be banned along with its sodium salt concentrate, and it's this concentrate which is currently still in use in New Zealand.

The agency says users have until the end of May next year to dispose of or use any remaining stocks.

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