The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) intends to prepare an application for a reassessment of herbicides used in aquatic environments, following significant new information on their effects becoming available. We are calling for information to inform the preparation of our application (APP204572).
There are grounds to reassess hazardous substances used as aquatic herbicides containing the following active ingredients:
[b][size=200].[/size][/b] diquat dibromide
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] metsulfuron-methyl
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] haloxyfop-R-methyl
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] imazapyr isopropylamine
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] triclopyr triethylamine
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] endothall dipotassium.
Under section 6 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, the EPA is required to consider many factors when reassessing hazardous substances, such as public health, the intrinsic value of ecosystems, and economic benefits. An important requirement is to understand whether the use of aquatic herbicide products affects the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, wāhi tapu, valued flora and fauna, and other taonga. We must also consider any impacts on Māori rights accorded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi).
The questions in this response form are intended to draw out relevant information to allow a comprehensive assessment of risks and benefits associated with availability and use of these substances as aquatic herbicides.
The form is structured to capture information that will be considered in the reassessment:
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] Part 1 – manufacture and import information (including packaging, labelling, volumes)
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] Part 2 – use and application information
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] Part 3 – environmental exposure mitigation measures
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b] [/b] Part 4 – scientific and technical information
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b] [/b] Part 5 – cultural impacts
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] Part 6 – the existence of alternatives
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] Part 7 – other relevant information.
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Information we are looking for[/b][/size][/color]
This is an opportunity for you, as interested parties and/or stakeholders, to provide information on herbicide products containing the substances listed above that are available in Aotearoa New Zealand, and how those products are used in aquatic environments. Our objective is to protect Aotearoa New Zealand’s environment and taonga, in accordance with tikanga.
We are looking to receive any relevant information relating to the current use, practices, and benefits of aquatic herbicide products. This includes any information relating to the effects of the products, positive or adverse; on the relationship of Māori and Māori culture to the environment; toxicology; ecotoxicology; environmental fate studies; or monitoring results.
All herbicide products containing the substances listed above, except for diquat dibromide, currently need permission before you can use them in aquatic environments in Aotearoa New Zealand. Here is a link to more information on permissions:
[url=https://www.epa.govt.nz/industry-areas/hazardous-substances/making-an-application/permissions/]Permission to use certain hazardous substances | EPA[/url]
The current permission holders are local and regional councils, as well as the Ministry for Primary Industries, Department of Conservation, Land Information New Zealand and Landcare Services Limited, in the plant pest control and biosecurity sectors.
From permission holders for aquatic herbicides, we are keen to get a better understanding of:
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] the effectiveness of the current requirements in managing risks to human health and the environment;
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] what measures are implemented to manage risks to human health and the environment;
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] whether alternatives to the current herbicides have been considered, and the basis for any decision made; and
[b][b][size=200].[/size][/b][/b] how the plant pest control and biosecurity requirements align with regulatory requirements under different pieces of legislation (e.g., Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act1996, Health and Safety at Work (HSW) Act 2015 and Resource Management Act 1991).
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Important date[/b][/size][/color]
[b]
Please complete and submit this online form no later than 28 June 2023. [/b]
Alternatively, you can complete and return your feedback form in Word format to [url=mailto:reassessments@epa.govt.nz]reassessments@epa.govt.nz[/url] no later than 28 June 2023.
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Feedback form[/b][/size][/color]
We have produced this feedback form to assist you to provide information to inform our analysis. When providing information, please provide your comments under the relevant headings, and attach any evidence or supporting information as applicable. As this is an opportunity to provide us with your relevant information, please focus on the areas that are of relevance to you. We encourage you to submit additional information such as product labels, study data, scientific literature, or technical reports as separate documents. If you choose to submit separate documents, please briefly identify these in the relevant section of the feedback form.
It would be helpful if you can complete the questions as comprehensively as possible and provide additional comments where appropriate. This information will be useful to ensure use scenarios are accurate and applicable to the substances in the reassessment.
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Responding is voluntary[/b][/size][/color]
Responding to this call for information is voluntary.
You are entitled to respond to whichever questions to which you feel able to contribute.
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Using the online submission tool[/b][/size][/color]
You may find it easier to type your responses out in another program and then copy and paste responses into the relevant field.
You can make the text boxes larger by dragging the bottom-right of the text box (when two diagonal lines are visible in the corner).
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Spreadsheet for Part 1 and Part 2 of this form[/b][/size][/color]
The EPA has created an excel file with two tables, which may be useful for providing information relating to parts one and two. These tables are not all-inclusive and we encourage you to add any other relevant information to the relevant text boxes in this online form.
[url=https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Documents/Hazardous-Substances/Reassessments-programme/CFI-on-Aquatic-herbicides/APP204572-Tables-for-online-form.xlsx]Download the spreadsheet for parts 1 and 2 (XLSX, 30KB)[/url]
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Attaching documents to this submission[/b][/size][/color]
Please upload any attachments that are relevant to your submission at the end of this online form. This can be done on the next page, after clicking 'Continue'. Please also reference any attachments in the relevant responses.
[center][color=black][size=150][u][b]Important information when providing feedback[/b][/u][/size][/color][/center]
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]How we will use this information[/b][/size][/color]
We intend to use this information in the preparation of an application for reassessment. We'll use it to determine whether the EPA should undertake a modified or full reassessment of herbicide products used in aquatic environments containing the substances diquat dibromide, metsulfuron-methyl, haloxyfop-R-methyl, imazapyr isopropylamine, triclopyr triethylamine or endothall dipotassium, and to inform that reassessment process.
Interested parties will have an opportunity to make formal submissions on our assessment and proposal once a reassessment application has been lodged.
Where it is lawful to do so, the EPA may also use the information to undertake its regulatory role, including by sharing the information with other agencies.
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Your information may be made publicly available[/b][/size][/color]
The EPA may publish or otherwise make available all or part of your response in accordance with section 55 of the HSNO Act. This may include your name but not your contact details. We acknowledge that some information may be commercially sensitive or be otherwise regarded as confidential. If you believe any of the information you are providing should not be made publicly available, please clearly identify the sensitive information within your response, and give the reasons, so we can consider this before publishing any information.
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Privacy[/b][/size][/color]
The Privacy Act 1993 establishes certain principles with respect to the collection, use, and disclosure of information about individuals by various agencies, including the EPA.
Any personal information you supply when providing feedback will be used only in relation to the matters covered by this document. We may also use your contact details for the purpose of requesting your participation in customer surveys.
You have a right to access and correct any personal information held by us, by contacting the EPA.
[url=https://www.epa.govt.nz/contact-information/]Contact information | EPA[/url]
You may request that your personal information (such as your name or address) be withheld from publicly available information.
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Official Information[/b][/size][/color]
The Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) establishes principles with respect to the disclosure of information held by government agencies, including the EPA. Any information you supply in the course of providing feedback will be subject to the OIA and may be disclosed, upon request, to members of the public.
Please advise if you consider that the information provided by you would fall within the grounds for withholding information under the OIA.
If the EPA receives an OIA request that involves information marked confidential or commercially sensitive, we make every effort to contact you to advise you that we have received an OIA request and to give you an opportunity to let us know if you consider that there are grounds under the OIA to withhold the information.
[color=#009EC7][size=150][b]Help[/b][/size][/color]
If you have any questions or need help filling out the forms or tables, please email [url=mailto:reassessments@epa.govt.nz]reassessments@epa.govt.nz[/url]
[center][color=black][size=150][b][u]Submission form[/u][/b][/size][/color][/center]
Please fill in the form below, then click Continue to review your submission. At any time you may click Save and Exit so that you can return later.
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