The Environmental Protection Authority has banned the use of some highly toxic insecticides and will phase out others used for plant and crop protection here.
The EPA has finished a two year review of insecticides containing 29 organophosphate and carbamate active ingredients, because of concerns here and overseas that they pose health and environmental risks.
The chemicals are used on a range of farm, vegetable and fruit crops as well as in grain silos and for biosecurity protection.
The EPA has withdrawn approval for insecticides or formulations containing 10 of the active ingredients.
Seven others, including diazinon, are to be phased out over a period of up to 15 years. And controls on the use of all the other substances are to be tightened in two years.
