August 2009
Update
Work on the reassessment of fumigant methyl bromide is well underway.
Staff at ERMA New Zealand are compiling information on the risks, costs and benefits of using methyl bromide in New Zealand.
This includes assessing its effects on human health, the
environment, the market economy, Māori interests and the wider
community. Depending on the outcome of this assessment, the use of
methyl bromide might be further restricted or even banned.
Methyl bromide is used at ports around New Zealand as a quarantine and pre-shipment fumigant to kill pests.
It is an ozone depleter and its use in New Zealand as a fumigant for soil has been phased out under the Montreal Protocol.
As part of the assessment of risks to human health, a review of
the current tolerable exposure limit (TEL) is being carried out. A
TEL is a level (or concentration) of methyl bromide in the air below
which adverse health effects to those living in the vicinity are
unlikely.
At present, the TEL set for methyl bromide under the HSNO Act is
for chronic (ie long-term, usually lifetime) exposure and there have
been suggestions that a level should be set for acute (short-term)
exposure, which would better address the intermittent nature of
possible exposure from port fumigation operations. This issue will
be addressed in the reassessment.
ERMA New Zealand staff have also facilitated two hui in areas with ports with high usage of methyl bromide – Tauranga and Picton – to gain iwi/Māori perspectives on the use of the substance.
Matters highlighted at the hui included the health of port workers
and neighbouring communities, the importance of methyl bromide use
to the forestry export industry, and effects on kaitiakitanga.
Staff have also been gathering information from within New Zealand and internationally on alternatives to methyl bromide, and research into recapture technology.
Once all the relevant information has been gathered and evaluated, recommendations will be made in a reassessment application document, which will be publicly notified and made available so that any interested parties can make submissions.
The reassessment application is expected to be notified during
October.
For more information on the reassessment, visit
http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/methyl bromide/
To receive further updates, email
reassessments@ermanz.govt.nz or call 0800 376 234.
Last Updated Aug 2009