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New Zealand: Planned controls on methyl bromide open to public feedback

The New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has produced a timeline to show the progress of an application to reassess the fumigant, methyl bromide.

The EPA said they received an application from Stakeholders in Methyl Bromide Reduction Inc (the applicant) to reassess methyl bromide, a hazardous substance used in quarantine and pre-shipment fumigations.

Every application under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (the HSNO Act) follows a statutory process towards a decision being made. There are several steps to the processing of any application.

The EPA has determined that this application will follow a modified reassessment process and will include a public notification process, at which time, the EPA will invite public submissions, and include a public hearing if one is requested.

This timeline identifies what has happened to date on the application to reassess methyl bromide, and when it happened, in chronological order.

Date	Step	What happened in this step?
15 April 2019	Further information and consent to waive a timeframe were requested (under sections 52 and 59 of the HSNO Act)	The applicant was asked to provide additional information to further inform their application, and to consent to a waiver on the timeframe for public notification to allow for provision of that information. The applicant consented to the timeframe waiver on 29 April 2019 and advised that the information would be provided by 28 June 2019. This information will form part of the reassessment application, which submitters will have an opportunity to comment on once the application is publicly notified.
12 April 2019	Decision on pathway determination and consultation method	The EPA decided to process the reassessment application as a modified reassessment (section 63A(1) of the HSNO Act). The EPA decided that the application will be publicly notified (section 63A(5) of the HSNO Act).
9 April 2019	Application formally received	The application form was checked for mechanical completeness, and payment of the application fee received.
25 March 2019	Application to reassess methyl bromide lodged	An application form was provided on Friday 22 March, with the supporting appendices provided on 25 March.
18 April 2018	Grounds to reassess methyl bromide	An EPA decision-making committee decided that grounds existed to reassess methyl bromide (APP203465).