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New Zealand's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has announced a new "priority chemicals list" of 40 chemicals that require re-evaluation. This action is part of the agency's ongoing chemical management program which aims to ensure the better protection of New Zealand's human health and the environment.
Under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO Act), a person who introduces hazardous substances or new organisms that are not already legally present in New Zealand must apply to EPA for approval. Once chemicals are granted approval for use in New Zealand, the approval does not have an expiration. However, the agency conducts the Chemical Reassessment Programme to review hazardous substances which already approved in New Zealand to evaluate whether there should be new controls on the substances.
As part of this new action, EPA has identified and drawn up the list of 40 already-approved chemical substances (the “priority chemicals list”) which will be subjected to a risk review and re-evaluation based on new and current information. The same action was taken in April 2017 when EPA reassessed five approvals for the pesticide chlorothalonil.
The priority list includes insecticides, brominated, and herbicidal chemicals associated with a high risk for human health and environmental impact, which are commonly used in agricultural settings. They are categorized into “priority groups” of chemicals.
New Zealand EPA worked with counterpart agencies in other countries including Europe, Norway, Canada, Australia and the United States to develop this list. Examples of chemicals in this list include the following:
- 2,4-DB (sodium salt);
- Tributyltin oxide;
- 4,4'-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA);
- Ammonium pentadecafluorooctanoate (APFO);
- Benzo[a]pyrene;
- Alachlor;
- alpha-Cypermethrin;
- Carbendazim;
- Brodifacoum;
- Dichlobenil; and
- Permethrin;
- Among others.
The full list of substances is available through EPA’s website here.
Manufacturers and importers of the affected substances should be aware of the changes, as these re-evaluations may lead to new controls on these substances, or to the withdrawal of approvals.
New Zealand's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has announced a new "priority chemicals list" of 40 chemicals that require re-evaluation. This action is part of the agency's ongoing chemical management program which aims to ensure the better protection of New Zealand's human health and the environment.
Under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO Act), a person who introduces hazardous substances or new organisms that are not already legally present in New Zealand must apply to EPA for approval. Once chemicals are granted approval for use in New Zealand, the approval does not have an expiration. However, the agency conducts the Chemical Reassessment Programme to review hazardous substances which already approved in New Zealand to evaluate whether there should be new controls on the substances.
As part of this new action, EPA has identified and drawn up the list of 40 already-approved chemical substances (the “priority chemicals list”) which will be subjected to a risk review and re-evaluation based on new and current information. The same action was taken in April 2017 when EPA reassessed five approvals for the pesticide chlorothalonil.
The priority list includes insecticides, brominated, and herbicidal chemicals associated with a high risk for human health and environmental impact, which are commonly used in agricultural settings. They are categorized into “priority groups” of chemicals.
New Zealand EPA worked with counterpart agencies in other countries including Europe, Norway, Canada, Australia and the United States to develop this list. Examples of chemicals in this list include the following:
- 2,4-DB (sodium salt);
- Tributyltin oxide;
- 4,4'-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA);
- Ammonium pentadecafluorooctanoate (APFO);
- Benzo[a]pyrene;
- Alachlor;
- alpha-Cypermethrin;
- Carbendazim;
- Brodifacoum;
- Dichlobenil; and
- Permethrin;
- Among others.
The full list of substances is available through EPA’s website here.
Manufacturers and importers of the affected substances should be aware of the changes, as these re-evaluations may lead to new controls on these substances, or to the withdrawal of approvals.
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