AgroPages-New Zealand EPA invites submissions on reassessment application-Agricultural news

The New Zealand 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.

Submissions for this reassessment application which will open on Tuesday 22 July 2014.