Reassessment application information

Reassessment timeline

We have produced a timeline so you can track the progress of this reassessment. The timeline provides information about each step of the reassessment, including the date, what happened in that step, and documents associated with each update.

View the methyl bromide reassessment timeline

View all the documents associated with this reassessment

Notice of hearing and hearing procedures

We issued a Notice of hearing that included the hearing procedures and provisional arrangements for the reassessment hearing.

Please note that the hearing dates listed are no longer current

Notice of Hearing (pdf, 596 KB)

Submissions received

We received 72 submissions as part of the public notification step. 

Read the submissions received - under Application documents, look for SUBMISSIONS

We are evaluating the application to reassess methyl bromide and these submissions will be incorporated into that evaluation. We will produce a Staff Report summarising our evaluation and our recommendations to the Decision-Making Committee (DMC).

Background information about the reassessment application

Stakeholders in Methyl Bromide Reduction Inc (STIMBR) applied for a reassessment of the approval for methyl bromide.

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 approval, such as the required controls. 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.

We can consider the first two of these requests. Buffer zones and many other workplace controls are now set in Part 14 of the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations, rather than in the HSNO approval for methyl bromide.

We have 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.

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.

Questions about the reassessment

You can contact:

• STIMBR's representative, Ian Gear, if you have questions about the technical information in the application or the information provided to the EPA.

Email Ian at ian@ingearglobal.com

• the EPA with any questions about the application or the submission process. Include 'methyl bromide reassessment' in the subject line.

Email us at: reassessments@epa.govt.nz