Following the US ban, New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority reviewed the use of dacthal and introduced stricter rules regarding its application.

On Tuesday, its hazardous substances re-evaluation manager told RNZ it had started a re-evaluation of the herbicide, which is a legal requirement before a ban can be considered.

Greenpeace executive director Russell Norman said the EPA should immediately stop using it.

“It is outrageous that the New Zealand EPA is allowing these chemicals to be used,” he said.

“When you look at the conditions that they apparently put on the use of these chemicals, you’re supposed to know whether or not you can get pregnant if you’re a farm worker, and then you have to somehow Avoid going to a farm that may have used these chemicals in the previous five days.

“I just think it’s completely irresponsible to put farmworkers in this position where they have to make decisions about a chemical that everyone is banning.”

Norman said he would write to the EPA to ban the use of dacthal here, but he doubted it would succeed.

Chlorthal dimethyl is not widely used in New Zealand and Norman said for this reason a ban would have little effect and should be easy to implement.

He said that in the United States, DCPA is widely used and banning its use would have significant impacts on vegetable growers, but the United States EPA nevertheless decided to ban it.

The Environmental Protection Authority has said it could follow the United States and Australia in banning the use of DCPA herbicides in New Zealand – but it could be a year before that ban comes into force.

Reassessment of possible ban – EPA

Shaun Presow, head of hazardous substances reevaluation at the EPA, said new rules had been imposed on the use of the herbicide following the US ban.

The EPA believed the rules protected people’s health and was re-evaluating the use of the chemical.

The process could not be rushed due to legal requirements.

“There are obstacles we have to overcome. It takes time,” he said.

“We must submit a request for re-evaluation before we can potentially suspend approvals. »

A ban was possible, but in the meantime the EPA believed the rules imposed in September protected public health.

DCPA weed killers can only be used on onions, garlic and shallots before they emerge, and only once per calendar year.

Users should maintain broad buffer zones to better protect the public.

Presow said these crops were not sprayed directly and the substance degrades before harvest, so “we can assure people there is no risk from exposure to the vegetables.”

In New Zealand there are two products containing the herbicide approved for use by the MPI: Dacthal and Chlor-Back 75 WG.

-RNZ