Submissions on reassessment list sought

ERMA New Zealand is calling for submissions on a revised priority list of hazardous substances for reassessment.

The current priority list for reassessment, known as the Chief Executive-Initiated Reassessment (CEIR) list, was drawn up following public consultation in 2006. Since then, reassessments on 12 of the 20 priority substances have been completed or are underway. As part of its ongoing programme, ERMA New Zealand has reviewed a number of other substances and is proposing a revised priority list for reassessment from 1 July 2010.

Reassessments Manager Mike Morris says the approach taken to prioritising the substances is based on the potential for exposure to the substance (for example, the amount used in New Zealand) as well as its inherent hazardous properties. “This gives a better idea of the likely risks posed by a substance and so enables us to allocate the significant resources required for each substance’s reassessment more efficiently,’’ Mr Morris says.

Submissions are invited from the public and interested parties on the proposed revision to the priority list, which close on Friday 30 October 2009. Submissions can be made by letter or email. 

To view the document, click here.

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New biological control for woolly nightshade approved

The introduction of a lace bug to control woolly nightshade has been approved by the Environmental Risk Management Authority.

Woolly nightshade is an invasive weed that is well established in the North Island. The application to introduce the lace bug Gargaphia decoris was made by Environment Bay of Plenty on behalf of a group of regional councils and the Department of Conservation and is the first biological control agent for woolly nightshade to be released in New Zealand.

Environment Bay of Plenty Chairman John Cronin says managing woolly nightshade has been the region’s most costly weed control programme. “As a regional council, we have spent $2 million during the past 18 years in a bid to control this invasive plant,” he says.

Fourteen submissions were received on the application, and two submitters spoke at a hearing held in August. ERMA New Zealand’s New Organisms General Manager, Dr Libby Harrison, says the submission and hearing process provided valuable information for consideration.

The decision-making committee hearing the application considered all the potential effects of the lace bug on the environment, human health and safety, the economy, society and community and Māori culture and values.  “Overall, the committee decided that the benefits of the release of the lace bug outweighed any adverse effects,” Dr Harrison said.

To view the decision document, click here.  

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Capital to host risk analysis conference

The 4th conference for the Society of Risk Analysis – Australia New Zealand (SRA-ANZ) kicks off in Wellington next week (28-30 September 2009).

Sponsored by ERMA New Zealand, the Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis and MAF-Biosecurity NZ, it is the first time the conference has been held in New Zealand. Janet Gough, Principal Policy Analyst at ERMA, will take up the SRA-ANZ presidency at the end of this year and is encouraging people interested in attending to register beforehand.

Called Informing Decisions through Risk Analysis, the conference’s keynote speaker is American applied biomathematics expert Scott Ferson, who will talk about uncertainty. There will also be workshops on uncertainty and risk communication.

Click here for a registration form and programme.

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New Organisms (NO) 

1 August 2009 to 31 August 2009

The applications in The Bulletin are for reference only. Our public notification process includes alerts in four main daily newspapers with the full information and submission forms available on our website.

To ensure that you are advised directly about applications open for public submission contact us to be added to our interested party list. You will need to nominate the types of applications that you are interested in. 

NO notified applications received and open for submissions

There are currently no notified applications open for submission.

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NO non-notified applications received

ERMA200063 by Bionera Ltd, to import into containment three bacterial species for research purposes.

Formally received: 21 August 2009.

ERMA200074 by The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (Auckland), to determine the function of plant genes and regulatory elements involved in growth, development, stress physiology, primary and secondary metabolism, symbiotic relationship, flowering, animal nutrition, digestion and health.

Formally received: 21 August 2009.

ERMA200093 by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry - Compliance and Enforcement Group, to detemine if Litoria caerulea is a new organism.

Formally received: 14 August 2009.

GMD09011 by AgResearch Limited, to develop recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) for delivery of transgenes to cell lines and animals in containment to investigate animal health and disease.

Formally received: 27 August 2009. 

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NO decisions on applications

Decisions were made by the Authority of ERMA New Zealand on the following applications:

ERMA200075 by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry - Compliance and Enforcement Group, to determine if Macrolophus pygmaeus is a new organism.

Application decision: Macrolophus pygmaeus is a new organism

Decision notified: 19 August 2009.

NOC09003 by Victoria University of Wellington, to import into containment the ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes (yellow crazy ant), for research purposes.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 6 August 2009.

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NO decisions on applications - delegated authority

The Chief Executive of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, acting under delegated power from the Authority, reached a decision on the following application:

ERMA200074 by The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (Auckland), to determine the function of plant genes and regulatory elements involved in growth, development, stress physiology, primary and secondary metabolism, symbiotic relationship, flowering, animal nutrition, digestion and health.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 26 August 2009.  

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NO decisions on applications - delegated authority to IBSCs

The following applications were decided by institutions acting under delegated powers from the Authority.

For a complete list of the modification of the organism, click the application code number to be directed to the decision document for the application.
 

ERMA200112, GMO09/MU002 by Massey University, for the construction of plasmid vectors containing the promoter region of human ADPGK for introduction into E. coli and human cell lines to study transcriptional regulation to provide insights into the role of ADPGK in situations of cellular stress.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 27 August 2009.

ERMA200113, GMO09/MU003 by Massey University, for the Genetic modification of Escherichia coli and mammalian cell lines with genes coding for histones and chromatin-associated proteins to investigate epigenetic mechanisms in cell growth and tumour formation.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 27 August 2009.
 

ERMA200098, GMO09/UO003 by the University of Otago, to understand mechanisms of development and cancer by expressing genes involved in cell division or development, or fluorescent proteins governed by regulatory sequences of such genes, in zebrafish or zebrafish cell lines.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 21 August 2009.

ERMA200103, GMO09/UO009 by the University of Otago, for the development of genetically modified Escherichia coli through the cloning of reporter or selectable marker genes for teaching purposes in undergraduate science laboratory classes.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 21 August 2009. 

Hazardous Substances (HS) 

1 August 2009 to 31 August 2009

The applications in The Bulletin are for reference only. Our public notification process includes alerts in four main daily newspapers with the full information and submission forms available on our website.

To ensure that you are advised directly about applications open for public submission contact us to be added to our interested party list. You will need to nominate the types of applications that you are interested in.

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HS notified applications received and open for submissions

ERMA200001 by Agricultural Imports Direct New Zealand, to import and manufacture for commercial use the granular formulation of cymoxanil as Curfew 450 WDG for the control of specific diseases of potato, onion and garlic crops.

Submission period: 5 August 2009 - 16 September 2009.

ERMA200026 by Cheminova (NZ) Ltd, to import or manufacture Foxtrot as a selective grass herbicide for use on autumn and spring sown barley, wheat and perennial ryegrass for the control of wild oats and lesser canary grains.

Submission period: 3 August 2009 - 14 September 2009.

ERMA200028 by Adria New Zealand Limited, to import or manufacture Nirvana as a herbicide containing the active ingredient glufosinate-ammonium for the control of weeds in various crops.

Submission period: 3 August 2009 - 14 September 2009.

ERMA200031 by Dow AgroSciences New Zealand Limited, to import or manufacture GF-1280 as a herbicide for commercial use for the non-selective control of many annual and perennial grasses and broadleaf weeds in a wide range of situations.

Submission period: 17 August 2009 - 28 September 2009

ERMA200037 by Pfizer New Zealand Limited, to import Derquantel for use in the manufacture and release of Derquantel-Abamectin Combination Formulation, an anthelmintic for use in ruminants, in the form of an oral drench.

Submission period: 14 August 2009 - 25 September 2009.

ERMA200044 by Cheminova (NZ) Ltd, to import or manufacture Danadim as an insecticide for the control of a wide range of insect pests on berry crops, fruit trees, vegetables, pastures, lucerne and fodder crops.

Submission period: 17 August 2009 - 28 September 2009.

ERMA200053 by Grayson Wagner Company Ltd, to import or manufacture IV 64 WB Timber Concentrate as an anti-sapstain and timber preservative.

Submission period: 24 August 2009 - 5 October 2009.

ERMA200085 by Bomac Laboratories Limited, to import or manufacture L2036PR as a veterinary medicine for production animals.

Submission period: 24 August 2009 - 5 September 2009.

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HS non-notified applications received

ERMA200057 by Pestrol New Zealand Ltd, to import Pestrol Automatic Control System as an insecticide for domestic, commercial and agricultural use.

Formally received: 18 August 2009.

ERMA200058 by Connovation Limited, to undertake two field trials in the South Island with a paste bait and / or an extruded pellet bait containing cholecalciferol at 4g/kg.

Formally received: 13 August 2009.

ERMA200062 by Connovation Limited, to undertake three field trials, two in the South Island and one in the North Island, with NNPAS bait on feral pigs.

Formally received: 26 August 2009.

ERMA200077 by Troy Laboratories NZ Pty Ltd, to import or manufacture TL0609 as a veterinary medicine for the treatment of farm and domestic animals.

Formally received: 25 August 2009.

ERMA200088 by Renovo Technologies Ltd, manufacture Renegade 100SC as an insecticide for use in domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural buildings.

Formally received: 18 August 2009.

ERMA200092 by Damar Industries Limited, to manufacture Multi Fit Commercial Insect Killer as an insecticide for use in domestic, industrial, commercial and agricultural buildings.

Formally received: 20 August 2009.

ERMA200109 by Biological Solutions Ltd, to import Bio Sol B Sub containing Bacillus subtilis, for use as a foliar ground spray to control either foliar or soil-borne diseases on agricultural and horticultural crops.

Formally received: 26 August 2009.

HSC09008 by AgriSource Ltd, to import or manufacture in containment AID0011 containing pyraflufen-ethyl with combustible, toxic and ecotoxic properties, for use alone and in tank mixtures for brushweed desiccation and as a pre-harvest contact desiccant of potato and clover / lucerne crops.

Formally received: 12 August 2009.

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HS decisions on applications

Decisions were made by the Authority of ERMA New Zealand on the following applications:

HRE08001 by Jaegar Australia Pty Ltd, for a modified reassessment of the approval for ethaneperoxoic acid, <5% in acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, to permit its use as a fungicide on grapevines for the control of specific diseases such as botrytis.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 14 August 2009.

HSR08124 by BASF New Zealand Limited, to import Frontier-P as a pre-emergence selective herbicide for the control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in a number of field crops.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 13 August 2009.

RES09004 by Pest Control Research Limited, to establish whether there are grounds for the reassessment of “Bait containing 8g/kg Cholecalciferol (Substance A)".

Application decision: Grounds exist for reassessment

Decision notified: 5 August 2009.
 

HSR08141 by Zelam Ltd, to import or manufacture Oxy 500 as a herbicide for selective vegetative control in certain areas.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 14 August 2009.

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HS decisions on applications - delegated authority

The Chief Executive of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, acting under delegated power from the Authority, reached decisions on the following applications:

ERMA200013 by Agricultural Imports Direct New Zealand Limited, to import REGAL as a herbicide to control certain broadleaf weeds in fodder brassica and winter oilseed rape crops.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 21 August 2009.

ERMA200042 by Reckitt Benckiser New Zealand Limited, to import RB-2-138 as an insecticide to be used indoors for the control of cockroaches.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 21 August 2009.

ERMA200071 by Nufarm New Zealand Limited, to import and manufacture Nufarm Azoxystrobin as a fungicide for the control of a wide range of diseases in barley, wheat and ryegrass seed crops.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 24 August 2009.

ERMA200016 by Troy Laboratories NZ Pty Ltd, to import TOL0509 as a veterinary medicine for the treatment of farm and domestic animals.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 13 August 2009.

ERMA200048 by Kop-Coat New Zealand Limited, to import S 100 as an additive for timber protection solutions.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 26 August 2009.

ERMA200076 by Bayer New Zealand Limited, to import Maxforce Quantum Ant Bait as an ant bait for use in commercial, domestic and institutional buildings.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 28 August 2009.

ERMA200087 by Renovo Technologies Ltd, to manufacture KB40 as a water based suspension of beta-cyfluthrin for use as an insecticide.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 24 August 2009.

HSC09010 by Connovation Limited, to import or manufacture into containment a paste bait and an extruded pellet bait containing cholecalciferol at 4g/kg to undertake a cage study and a field trial.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 5 August 2009.

HSR08108 by Scotts Australia Pty Limited, to import or manufacture Scotts Banrot 80g Broad Spectrum Fungicide for Ornamentals, containing thiophanate-methyl and etridiazole, for the control of a range of seedling diseases or ornamental plants.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 26 August 2009.

HSR08129 by Omnia Primaxa Limited, to import and manufacture Tactic as a horticultural fungicide in New Zealand.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 6 August 2009.

HSR09027 by Nufarm New Zealand Limited, to import or manufacture B NINE WG as a plant growth regulator in New Zealand.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 13 August 2009.

HSR09039 by Agronica New Zealand Limited, to import or manufacture Albatross 200SC Insecticide, as a suspension concentrate containing 200 g/l fipronil for the control of insects in vegetable brassicas, citrus, mushrooms and onions.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 26 August 2009.

HSR09053 by Stockguard Laboratories (New Zealand) Limited, to manufacture SUHPMC as a veterinary medicine for the treatment of mastitis in lactating cattle.

Application decision: Approved with controls

Decision notified: 12 August 2009. 

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HS applications withdrawn

ERMA200006 by Bomac Laboratories Limited was withdrawn on 5 August 2009.

HSR09033 by Kop-Coat New Zealand Limited was withdrawn on 5 August 2009.

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Test Certifiers

The Chief Executive of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, acting under delegated power from the Authority, reached decisions on the following application. The full requirements and limitations for the following Test Certifier are available on our public register or website.

TST100001, to approve Robyn Bennett as a test certifier for the Waikato region.

Application decision: Approved with limitations

Decision notified 28 August 2009. 

Recent Publications 

The following ERMA publications are now available. For more information on their availability, please contact publicationinfo@ermanz.govt.nz

Decision Paths (Protocol updated August 2009)

Interpretations and Explanations of Key Concepts (Protocol updated August 2009)
 

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