13 Sep 2008

Three agrichemicals added to hazard list

5:12 pm on 13 September 2008

The Environmental Risk Management Authority has added three more agrichemicals to the list of hazardous substances.

The three are trichlorfon, used as an insecticide and in veterinary uses; dichlorvos, used for controlling crawling and flying insects in the agricultural and public health sectors; and methylarsinic acid, used for controlling paspalum and other weeds in turf.

They join two other chemicals that ERMA is also currently reassessing for use: the insecticide endosulfan, and methyl bromide, used for fumigating logs and other goods for export.

It's also reviewing the insecticides methyl parathion and azinphos methyl.

The five year review programme, which includes public consultation, will reconsider the adequacy of safety precautions for chemicals under review, or even whether they should still be used in New Zealand.

The first substance to be reviewed was the insecticide and fungicide PCP. ERMA revoked the approvals for that, as it wasn't being used in this country.