New rules coming into force for some highly-toxic insecticides

Media release: 17 June 2015

New rules come into force next month to protect people and the environment from the risks posed by a group of highly toxic insecticides.

From 1 July 2015, only specially-qualified people will be able to buy many organophosphate and carbamate-based insecticides.

These insecticides play an important role in New Zealand’s biosecurity and agriculture industry, but they can harm the environment, and may cause short and long-term health problems.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) reassessed 28 different active ingredients in organophosphate and carbamate-based insecticides in 2013, and put in a suite of new measures to manage the risks they pose.

Ten active ingredients had their approvals revoked immediately, meaning they could no longer be imported or manufactured in New Zealand, and a further two cannot be manufactured or imported after 1 July next year.

The EPA also set new rules to manage the risks posed by the remaining active ingredients that we assessed, including that most can only be used by specially-qualified people.

The new rules will be written on the labels of these products, so anyone who uses them will be able to learn the new rules, and follow them.

These rules have been set to protect people, and the environment.

There are pamphlets on WorkSafe New Zealand’s website that explain the new rules in more detail.

• Learn how to use OPC insecticides safely

People who don’t follow the rules may be prosecuted.

WorkSafe New Zealand is in charge of enforcing compliance in workplaces.

ENDS

© Scoop Media