Methyl bromide is used as a fumigant in the quarantine and pre-shipment treatment of logs, produce, flowers and other goods. It is also used for the treatment of potato wart.

We are processing this application as a modified reassessment. This means that the reassessment will only consider specific aspects of the substance's approval, such as the required controls (or rules regarding its use). The approval to import or manufacture methyl bromide cannot be revoked in this type of reassessment.

STIMBR has asked us to consider:

• proposed new controls regarding the definition of recapture
• the time that such recapture would have to be used when fumigating ship holds with methyl bromide
• the buffer zones associated with all methyl bromide fumigations. 

Application documents

The information provided by the applicant can be found in the following documents:

STIMBR's Application form (pdf, 2.1 MB)

Appendix 3 Review of toxicology classification (pdf, 1 MB)

Appendix 4 Review of ecotoxicology classifications (pdf, 142 KB)

Appendix 5 Customs report on fumigant risks (pdf, 520 KB)

Appendix 6 Port of Tauranga volatile compounds assessment report (pdf, 1 MB)

Appendix 7A Air dispersion modelling report (pdf, 4.8 MB)

Appendix 7B Addendum: Air dispersion modelling report (pdf, 4.8 MB)

Appendix 8 Ministry of Health report (pdf, 284 KB)

Appendix 9 Forestry statistics (pdf, 284 KB)

Appendix 10 Methyl bromide post reassessment guidance for fumigators (pdf, 288 KB)

Appendix 11 Ambient air modelling (pdf, 1.2 MB)

Appendix 12 Minimum fumigation operations at Northport (pdf, 2.3 MB)

Appendix 13 Fumigation procedures for Port of Tauranga (pdf, 959 KB)

Appendix 14 Keeping safe from harmful substances while inspecting or unpacking containers (WorkSafe New Zealand) (pdf, 248 KB)

Appendix 15 Methyl bromide fumigation methodology v2 (International Cargo Cooperative Biosecurity Arrangement) (pdf, 1.6 MB)

The application register contains all of the documents available for this application

Further information

After we formally received the application, we asked for further information from STIMBR and from a number of third parties. Responses from third parties are available for information but do not form part of the application from STIMBR.

EPA’s request for further information from applicant and related time waiver (pdf, 2.2 MB)

Further information response from applicant (pdf, 6.3 MB)

Further information response from Ministry for Primary Industries (pdf, 1 MB)

Further information response from Ministry for Foreign Affairs Trade and Industry (pdf, 15 KB)

Further information response from Bay of Plenty Regional Council (pdf, 566 KB)

Processing decisions

We decided to process this application as a modified reassessment that would be publicly notified.

Memorandum regarding the pathway determination for the reassessment of methyl bromide (pdf, 212 KB) 

Memorandum regarding the method of consultation for the reassessment of methyl bromide (pdf, 200 KB) 

The substance's approval was reissued prior to the modified reassessment being heard, so that it's the new Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act controls (in EPA Notices) that would be modified.

Amended reissued approval (pdf, 1.6MB)

Grounds for reassessment

In April 2018, we decided that grounds existed for a reassessment of methyl bromide, following an application by STIMBR.

Grounds to reassess were granted based on data that evidenced New Zealand’s use of the fumigant has increased from over 400 tonnes a year in 2010, to more than 600 tonnes in 2016. One of the criteria required to be met to meet grounds for reassessment under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, is a significant change in the quantity of a substance imported into or manufactured in New Zealand.

Read the decision on grounds for reassessment (pdf, 338 KB)