The Environmental Protection Authority has approved an application for a new pesticide to control sucking insects including aphids and greenhouse whitefly.
Dow Agro Sciences applied to import and manufacture a pesticide containing the chemical sulfoxaflor for use on various commercial crops.
The company says the pesticide is a more effective and less toxic pest control compared with some other chemicals, such as organophosphates.
An EPA expert committee approved the application but with restrictions, including keeping it away from waterways and bees.
Meanwhile, tomato growers have also applied to the EPA to bring a new predatory insect into the country as a non-chemical control for whitefly in greenhouses.
Tomatoes New Zealand chairman Alasdair MacLeod said the insect, called Macrolophus pygmaeus is already widely used overseas for whitefly control.
