CUT FLOWER

Review Pending of OP's and carbamates

2 November 2011

The EPA’s assessment of Op’s and carbamates
… a need for industry action if growers wish to retain some options for future use

A recent call to action has been made by Gardening New Zealand to start the ball rolling on gathering information from growers on use of OP's and carbamates. These agrichemicals have widespread uses across many areas of horticulture. The following is a release from John Liddle, CEO of Gardening New Zealand

New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, and formerly ERMA) is reassessing all the organophosphates and carbamates used in New Zealand for plant protection to see whether or not they should continue to be available for continued use by either commercial growers and home gardeners .

These chemicals are important tools in pest control (mainly insect), but pose recognized risks to operators, the public and the environment.  The EPA will be balancing the needs of the primary industry which requires a range of tools in the pest management toolbox, alongside the safety of people and the environment.

In addition, the EPA is keen ensure that the removal of any one chemical does not lead to increased use of another that may pose a greater safety risk.

In determining a view on the current desirability of the continued use of any one organophosphate or carbamate the EPA will also look at the controls around the use of the chemical – operator training, personal protection equipment for example.  It may be that a chemical is not removed from use, but that the rules around its use are strengthened and the places in which it can be used restricted. 

Please note that many of the chemicals under consideration are widely used in nursery production, some present in composites and some are widespread in home garden use – Shield and diazinon for example.

The EPA’s available actions for any one chemical

  • Deregister the chemical – effectively ban it from sale
  • Restrict availability &/or strengthen Increase use requirements
  • Do nothing (very unlikely)

Gardening New Zealand is in the process of preparing a submission to EPA and are in the process of gathering information on commercial and home garden use to advocate recommendations that avoid adversely impacting horticultural businesses and the ability to control pests and diseases.

For More information readers can contact Ian Gear - [email protected]

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