Submissions invited on modified reassessment application
The EPA has lodged an application for a reassessment of fifteen approvals for substances containing organophosphate or
carbamate chemicals.
The application will determine appropriate periods of time that must elapse between the application of these
insecticides onto a plant or tree, and when that plant or tree begins to flower and is likely to be visited by bees.
These proposals are intended to protect bees and other insect pollinators against adverse effects from post-application
exposure to insecticides containing acephate, dimethoate, methamidophos, methomyl or oxamyl as active ingredients.
In 2013 the reassessment of organophosphate and carbamate plant protection substances was completed. The primary risk to
bees was considered to be from direct contact during spraying, and non-contact periods were removed for insecticides
containing specific active ingredients.
Concerns have since been raised by the National Beekeepers Association on the post-application effects of these
insecticides which lead to grounds for reassessment being established. This included information from overseas
regulatory activity on the post-application effects of a number of active ingredients that support the reinstatement of
non-contact periods.
We invite submissions for this reassessment application which will open on Tuesday 22 July 2014.
More information can be found on www.epa.govt.nz......
ENDS