New Zealand EPA consults on use extension of DuPont’s Exirel insecticide

The New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is calling for submissions on an application from DuPont Limited to extend the use of the insecticide Exirel (cyantraniliprole) to allow aerial application. It was assessed and approved for use by the U.S.EPA in June 2013, with controls limiting its use to ground-based application methods. The submission period for this application opens on 8 April 2016 until 23 May 2016.

The EPA has determined that there are grounds for a modified reassessment of Exirel, as an application for aerial use represents a significant change in the use pattern of the substance. The current approval for ground-based application of Exirel is for a maximum of three applications per year and a minimum interval of seven days between applications.

The modified reassessment application is for controlling the same pests (caterpillars and aphids) in the same crop (fodder brassica). The applicant is seeking this change to application methods to allow aerial application on uneven terrain and during wet conditions. The applicant has proposed an aerial application rate of 15 g ai/ha, a maximum of three times per year, within a minimum interval of 14 days between applications. This is lower than the currently approved maximum application rate of 50 g ai/ha for ground-based methods. The applicant has proposed downwind buffer zones for both ground-based application (5 metres) and aerial application (100 metres) to protect sensitive areas such as waterways. There are no buffer zones in the current approval.