New Zealand seeking submissions on diazinon review

The Environmental Risk Management Authority is seeking submissions on a review of the organophosphate diazinon.

Diazinon is a pesticide and ectoparasiticide used for plant protection and as a veterinary medicine. It was first approved for use in New Zealand in 1967.

Grounds for the reassessment of diazinon were approved in 2009 following significant new information on its health effects.

This new information has resulted in changes to registrations and bans on some of its uses in Australia, Europe, the United States and Canada.

The preliminary recommendation from ERMA staff is for the approvals on some uses of diazinon to be revoked, with other uses to be restricted or phased out.

Views from the public are now being sought. Submissions close on 28 July 2011.

Diazinon is one of a group of four substances which are being considered together by ERMA. The other substances are Dichlorvos, acephate and methamidiphos.

These substances share a mode of action and, in some circumstances, one substance may be used as an alternative for another.

A joint hearing will be held in October on all four substances.

ERMA's Hazardous Substances General Manager, Andrea Eng, says looking at these substances at the same time will allow the risks, costs and benefits of all four to be considered together, and balance the needs of industry with the potential adverse effects to people and the environment.

For this reason, information from submitters on the uses and benefits of diazinon, as well as any further data on the other three organophosphates, will be of particular benefit to the decision-makers.

An update paper will be prepared after submissions have closed. This update paper will take into account the use of all four substances by industry.

Recommendations on the continued use of each of the individual substances may change in light of submissions.

There will be an opportunity for comment on the update paper before the joint hearing in October.