ERMA to review fungicide quintozene

The Environmental Risk Management Authority has decided there are grounds to reassess the use of the fungicide quintozene in New Zealand.

The decision comes after dioxin impurities were found in quintozene products in Australia at levels that may present health risks to workers who frequently apply them.

Quintozene is used commercially on bulbs and turf in New Zealand.

There is currently one product, Terraclor 75W, registered here. Importer Nufarm has confirmed that it will neither sell nor import quintozene pending the outcome of the reassessment.

Hazardous Substances Reassessments Manager Lynne Waterson says ERMA New Zealand acknowledges and supports Nufarm’s proactive response.

Dioxins are on the list of substances covered by the Stockholm Convention, to which New Zealand is a party. New Zealand has committed to reducing releases of dioxin to the environment.

Australia is currently reassessing quintozene. Recent reassessments in the United States and Canada have not banned the substance, but have resulted in restrictions on its use.

In the next step in the process, ERMA New Zealand staff will prepare a reassessment application, containing an assessment of scientific information and research data from both New Zealand and overseas.

Once this is complete, submissions from the public and interested parties will be sought.

All submissions will be considered, and a hearing may be held if requested, before a committee of the Authority makes its decision.

This is expected to be in the first half of 2011.

To read the Grounds for Reassessment Decision, go to:
http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/find/WebResults.aspx?search=erma200648

To receive further information on the quintozene reassessment, please e-mail reassessments@ermanz.govt.nz.