The application

Draslovka requested approval for use of EDN as a phytosanitary treatment of wood products (including logs) to control a wide range of insects, nematodes, and fungi. The applicant proposed that fumigation be carried out in shipping containers, fumigation chambers, under sheets, and in ships’ holds. The maximum application rate of 150 g/m³ in the application was later reduced by the applicant to 120 g/m³. EDN was proposed as an alternative to methyl bromide.

At the time of the application, EDN was already approved in Australia, and subsequently approved in South Korea and Malaysia during the hearing and consideration stages of the application. It is also approved in Russia.

Public consultation 

The active ingredient of EDN, ethanedinitrile, has not been previously assessed under the HSNO Act, so the application was considered to be of significant public interest. The application was open for public submission from 27 February 2018 until 19 April 2018. Forty-three submissions were received. 

Hearings

A public hearing was held over three days in Wellington and Rotorua. The hearing was reconvened in November 2021 and closed.

Wellington hearing transcript, 21 August 2018 (PDF, 882KB)

Rotorua hearing transcript, 28-29 August 2018 (PDF, 1.2MB)

Reconvened virtual hearing transcript, 21 November 2021 (PDF, 770KB)

Decision-making committee reviews information and makes decision

The decision-making committee reviewed a substantial amount of information to make its decision including:

• the application
  
• written submissions
  
• oral presentations at the hearing
  
• expert conferencing
  
• advice from the EPA, including science memorandums, staff reports and a cultural risk assessment
  
• advice and information from WorkSafe, including the draft Safe Work Instruments
  
• other information, including various air dispersion modelling reports.